Needham's St. Joseph School Welcomes New Principal

NEEDHAM, MA — Saint Joseph School in Needham is welcoming new leadership this school year. Lauren Solomon will take over as principal and Dan Price will take over as assistant principal.

Solomon and Price will be responsible for the education of the newly combined school, formerly St. Joseph Elementary School and Monsignor Haddad Middle School, for students from Preschool through Grade 8.

“We feel blessed to have Mrs. Solomon and Mr. Price lead the students and faculty at St. Joseph
School this upcoming school year,” said Fr. Peter Stamm, pastor of St. Joseph Parish. “Mrs.
Solomon and Mr. Price joined us in their new roles July 1st, and bring great leadership, knowledge, and mentorship to our newly merged school.”

Solomon attended Mt. Alvernia Academy and graduated from Salve Regina University where she received her B.S. in Elementary and Special Education. She later attended Cambridge College to earn an M.Ed. for School Guidance Counseling and a post-masters certificate. Solomon completed the Emmaus Series for Catholic School Leaders program and is participating in the Leadership Catholic School Principal Academy at Boston College’s Lynch School of Education.

Solomon spent her first year in education at Sharon public schools and spent the following eight years at St. John the Evangelist in Canton as the middle school ELA teacher and guidance counselor.

Following her time at St. John’s, she taught fifth grade at the Jackson School in Newton. Most recently, Solomon served as assistant principal for four years at St. Joseph Elementary School, as well as interim principal for a portion of the current academic year.

“I look forward with great enthusiasm to my role as the Saint Joseph School Principal,” Solomon said, “My goal for St. Joseph School is to have our students be a part of something great and
to fall in love with learning through not only our academic offering, but our faith and commitment to service as well.”

Price started his career in New York and Pennsylvania in a variety of teaching positions
in elementary school and middle school at St. Ignatius of Loyola School, Scranton Preparatory
School, and The Epiphany School.

He also spent six years as the guidance counselor and boys’ basketball coach at St. Joseph Parish’s Monsignor Haddad Middle School. His focus was on academic mentoring and high school placement assistance. Price spent a year completing his principal fellowship at Boston College’s Lynch Leadership Academy with Malden Catholic High School. Most recently, Price has served as Associate Principal of Elementary Education for four years at Lowell Catholic. During his time at Lowell Catholic, Price co-lead the opening of the school’s elementary school division and led the faculty in the development of the instructional vision and curriculum for the school.

Price received his Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology from Fordham University and Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership with a Catholic Schools focus from Boston College.

“My time at St. Joseph Parish’s middle school was one of the highlights of my professional career and I’m excited to be rejoining the team. I look forward to meeting the school community and working with Mrs. Lauren Solomon to create a collaborative, engaging learning environment for students and faculty,” Price said.