Nelson named principal of Wolf Swamp

June 23, 2016 | Chris Goudreau
cgoudreau@thereminder.com

Elizabeth Nelson will start as Wolf Swamp Road Elementary School’s new principal starting July 1.
Reminder Publications photo by Chris Goudreau

LONGMEADOW – Glenbrook Middle School Assistant Principal Elizabeth Nelson was recently named the new principal of Wolf Swamp Road Elementary School and is set to start the job on July 1.

Nelson, who has served as assistant principal and special education supervisor at Glenbrook for the past two years, told Reminder Publications she believes it’ll be hard to fill the shoes of former Wolf Swamp Principal Neil Gile, who is leaving Longmeadow Public Schools to become director of curriculum for the Hampden-Wilbraham Regional School District.

“Neil has walked in a tremendous path and he has the utmost respect from his faculty and staff and that was made clear throughout the entire hiring process of the Wolf Swamp principal position,” she explained. “I’m very fortunate that I have the opportunity to meet with Dr. Gile on several occasions, both that have already occurred, and [meetings that] will continue to happen between now and June 30 to really make certain that all the work and the efforts that Dr. Gile and his staff have already done is continued as we move forward.”

Nelson said applying to become Wolf Swamp’s principal was “very natural” for her due to her extensive teaching experience at the elementary school level.

She added she’s worked at the elementary level as a classroom teacher, special education teacher, English language learner’s teacher, and an effective educator coach. She worked in the Springfield Public School System before coming to Longmeadow.

Nelson said her top goal as principal is first to understand the staff’s vision.

“I want to continue the work that is already being done towards that school improvement [plan],” she noted. “I know that the social-emotional learning culture is enormously positive at Wolf Swamp and there has been a tremendous amount of work done there.”

She said her background in middle school education would also help with the job.

“I have a clear vision of where our fifth graders need to be,” Nelson explained. “So, I understand the rigor of the education, the expectations of the education at the middle [school] level and I also understand where students are going developmentally with digital and social media. I think that I can be a resource in terms of understanding how we can continue to move students forward at the elementary [level] and during those formative years.”

Nelson also shared some words of advice for her successor at Glenbrook Middle School.

“I would just say that there is no typical day in the life of an assistant principal and special education supervisor,” she noted. “There are days where there is a lot of paperwork dealing with the [individualized education program] process and there are days where you are in classrooms and really able to celebrate the academic successes of the students. There are also days where your dealing with student discipline and behavior … I wish that person the best of luck and I’m down the road if they have any questions.”

She said her educational background includes a bachelor’s degree from Syracuse University, a master’s degree in elementary education from Springfield College, a certificate of advanced graduate studies in principal administration from American International College (AIC), and a doctorate in education, leadership, and supervision also from AIC.

Nelson said she would likely continue her career path in education in the future.

“I have many years left in my career,” she added. “I have a very young family and for seven years I’ve been on the gas pedal in terms of achieving my goals and completing my education. I hope to have a long stay at Wolf Swamp having that balance as family as well as educator, but certainly once my children are grown I do envision a future that is open to director positions or superintendent at some point.”

School Committee Chair Jessica Hutchins said she considers the district to be “blessed” with professional talent.

“Beth has a unique and valuable perspective moving from the middle school to the elementary school,” Hutchins noted. “She knows exactly what will be expected of her students when they move up [to] Glenbrook. She has a built-in familiarity and rapport with families here and understands the culture in the schools and town.”

Hutchins said the assistant principal position at Glenbrook would be advertised for during the next two weeks.  

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