Keefe Tech Superintendent's Final Day Was a Snow Day

Posted by Susan Petroni 

When Jim Lynch retired as Superintendent/Director of the South
Middlesex Regional Vocational Technical School District and of Keefe Regional Technical School in Framingham, his final day was a snow day.

Lynch's final day, last Friday, Jan. 4, ended a career in education that has spanned almost four decades at the South Middlesex Regional Technical School.

“I’ve been lucky to be part of a terrific team of dedicated educators here at Keefe Regional Tech, and I’m proud of the work we’ve done collectively,” said Lynch in a press release. “I’ve had the pleasure of working with so many great students over the years. I’m proud of their accomplishments and their willingness to be motivated to continue to learn after they’ve built a solid educational foundation at Keefe.” 

Lynch, who grew up in Worcester, graduated from Fitchburg State College in 1974 and received a Master’s degree from Framingham State College in 1979. 

Lynch is a member and officer of the Massachusetts Association of Vocational Administrators), an organization that provides educational development activities to support Career and Technical educators, and advances professional and organizational leadership goals. 

Lynch began his career in education when he was hired as an instructor in the general construction trades exploratory department at Keefe in 1974. 

In 1978, he moved into Keefe’s pecial education department, taking one of the two lead teacher positions and serving as a vocational resource instructor. He spent two years in this leadership role facilitating inclusion support to students in their career and technical laboratories. This approach to student support 
became a model for other CTE schools. 

Following a three-year stint outside of teaching in a position in the construction trades industry, Lynch returned to teaching, rejoining the staff in the career exploratory department. He became the lead teacher in that department in 1985. 

In 1993, Lynch joined the carpentry department and assumed the role of lead teacher two years later. In 2003, an opportunity in administration was available as Keefe was seeking a vocational technical coordinator. Lynch filled that opening and gained valuable administrative experience. 

Four years later, Lynch was appointed Principal, a position he held for one year before being selected as Keefe’s Superintendent-Director in 2008 when his predecessor, Peter Dewar retired. 

Lynch will be succeeded by Jonathan Evans, Keefe’s current Principal and a member of the Keefe staff since 1996.

“After years of dedicated service to our students and our district, Jim Lynch is leaving us in a wonderful place in terms of effectiveness in helping students reach their potential and with our connection to our district towns. While I am honored to take over as Superintendent-Director, no one could ever replace Jim Lynch,” said Evans.

During his tenure Lynch has seen steady enrollment increases at Keefe, which draws students from Ashland, Framingham, Holliston, Hopkinton and Natick, and has witnessed many positive changes in career technical education opportunities at Keefe. 

“Over the years, there’s been a movement to raise academic standards for all students including career and technical students. They must meet increasingly rigorous academic requirements as well as reach proficiency in their chosen career technical areas. The goal of career technical education is to simultaneously prepare students for college as well as careers,” Lynch said. 

“There are so many wonderful opportunities for success here at Keefe. Our graduates go on to prestigious colleges and universities, and have successful careers in the military as well as in the private employment sector,” he added.

In his five years as Superintendent-Director at Keefe, Lynch believes he has accomplished the primary goals he set for himself when taking the position, and believes he has made inroads with the community. 

“I’m proud of the relationship our administration has developed with our 
school committee, as well as our relationship with the five towns in our school district. By operating with honesty and transparency, we’ve earned the respect of all of our stakeholders in the community,” Lynch said. 

Although he says he’ll miss the students and colleagues at the school where he has been a fixture for almost 40 years, Lynch is looking forward to retirement. 

“I’m happy that I’ll be able to spend valuable time with my growing family. And I may explore some new areas and interests, too,” he added.

Keefe Regional Technical School is a four-year public high school located in Framingham, It is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges. In addition to 15 career and technical programs, Keefe Tech offers a complete college preparatory and honors academic program to students from the communities of Ashland, Framingham, Holliston, Hopkinton and Natick.