Framingham's Mary Stapleton Elementary Gets New Principal

FRAMINGHAM, MA — After a year without a permanent principal in place, Framingham's Mary Stapleton Elementary School finally has a new leader.

District officials have chosen Sara Costa Yuen, the former principal at Phoenix Charter Academy in Chelsea, as the new Stapleton principal. She will take over for Brenda Maurao, the former FPS assistant director of elementary education, who was serving as principal on an interim basis.

"I have dedicated my career in education to working towards equitable outcomes for all students and am excited to continue that work with the Stapleton team," Yuen said in a news release. "During the interview process, I was energized by the incredible Stapleton students and the meaningful questions and conversations with teachers, staff, and parents. As a member of the Brazilian community and a Portuguese and Spanish speaker, I seek to ensure that all families feel included in the life of the school.”

Before Phoenix Charter Academy, Yuen was a director at the Portuguese Language School of the MetroWest Mission Hub, and was a social studies teacher in Lawrence. She is a Boston University graduate and holds a masters in education from Harvard University.

Yuen is the first permanent principal at the school since February 2020, when principal Anne Diaz stepped down due to a medical issue.