LONGMEADOW – Wolf Swamp Road Elementary School Principal Neil Gile is leaving the district to become director of curriculum and instruction for the Hampden-Wilbraham Regional School District (HWRSD).

Gile told Reminder Publications he’s excited for the opportunity to move to a central office position.

“It’s been a course I’ve been on for some time now, dating back to the beginning of my doctoral studies,” he added. “Those positions don’t open a lot, especially in this area. When it opened up, I just thought I wanted to put my name in … It had all of the elements that I was looking for in terms of a next step.”

He said he considers it “bittersweet” to leave Wolf Swamp, where he’s served as principal during the past five years.

Superintendent of Schools Marie Doyle said Gile has been an “exceptional principal.”

She added, “We will miss him, but he is ready for the next step in his career and we wish him the best of luck.”

Doyle said the search process to find Gile’s successor would include advertising for the position for three weeks, followed by the creation of a search committee composed of teachers, parents, and administrators who would interview candidates.

“We’ll then do site visits to [candidate] locations as well as having them visit us,” she explained. “We hope to have an appointment in June so [Gile’s successor] could start for Aug. 1.”  

Gile also shared some words of advice for his successor.

“Take the time to really get to know the people,” he said. “The children are amazing; the parents, the teachers … and the district as a whole. They have to come to appreciate what the district stands for and specific to Wolf Swamp – just embrace that culture and really immerse yourself in it.”

Gile was one of two finalists for Longmeadow’s superintendent position, but was beaten out for the job by HWRSD Superintendent M. Martin O’Shea.

“Marty has been super supportive,” Gile said. “I was very transparent with him and he too recognizes that these positions don’t open a lot and they’re few and far between.”

O’Shea would begin work as Longmeadow’s superintendent July 1.

School Committee Chair Janet Robinson said she believes Gile was not chosen as Longmeadow’s superintendent because of his lack of central office experience.

“I think this will give him a great opportunity as a stepping stone to moving to a superintendency down the road,” she explained.

Robinson said Gile’s colleagues at Wolf Swamp have “nothing but the utmost respect for him” and he will be greatly missed by the Longmeadow community as well.

“I know that [on] social media and whatnot, parents are very upset saying that the School Committee has made a horrific mistake by not hiring him [as superintendent] in the first place,” she noted.  

HWRSD Assistant Superintendent for Business Beth Regulbuto stated in a memorandum to staff and colleagues Gile would begin working in the district on July 5.

“Dr. Gile’s career has been in education, including roles as assistant principal and principal in Monson Public Schools … He is also an adjunct professor at Bay Path University, where he teaches course work on curriculum design and development,” she added. “He obtained his bachelor of science and master of education from Springfield College and earned his doctorate from American International College.”

She continued, “Dr. Gile's commitment to ensure students be at the core of his decision making, his systematic approach to his work providing consistency and transparency, his passion for learning, his strong interpersonal skills, and his vision resulted in the committee’s unanimous recommendation to appoint him to be Hampden-Wilbraham’s next director of curriculum and instruction.”

Gile would succeed Stephen Hale as curriculum director, who is set to return as principal of Minnechaug Regional High School. Hale took over the job last year from Timothy Connor, who left for a similar position in the West Springfield school district.

In related business, Longmeadow Public Schools hired Williams Middle School Assistant Principal Jean Fontaine as the new director of pupil services.

“It’s an important position and I’ve been working in the [district] for 16 years,” Fontaine said. “I just look forward to continuing the important work that we’re doing here in Longmeadow for students with disabilities.”

She added she’s been assistant principal for five years. Prior to taking that job, she was the special education supervisor at Williams Middle School for five years.

Doyle said she believes Fontaine would do a “phenomenal job” in the new position.

She added Williams Middle School Principal Taylor Wrye would lead the search to find a new assistant principal at the school.

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