Elementary School In Westfield To Get New Assistant Principal

WESTFIELD, NJ — The Westfield Board of Education unanimously approved, at its meeting Tuesday, the appointment of Mary McCabe as Assistant Principal at Franklin Elementary School. She takes the spot on July 1.

McCabe has been serving as Franklin Interim Assistant Principal since last July, when Dr. Paul Duncan began his new role as principal.

“As a graduate of Westfield High School and mother of two children in the Westfield Public School District, I have been delighted to serve as a teacher for many years at Franklin School,” said McCabe to board members after her appointment. “This school year I have enjoyed my role as interim assistant principal and I am so excited to continue in this position moving forward.”

Her responsibilities over the past year included helping plan hybrid instruction, implementing health and safety protocols, organizing student cohorts, creating weekly bulletins to share updates, supervising over 40 teachers and staff members, and facilitating one-to-one meetings with students.

McCabe joined the district 17 years ago, teaching fourth grade at Franklin while serving as a literacy coach for grades one through five.

Before coming to Westfield, McCabe was a fourth grade teacher at Holy Trinity School for two years and an assistant track and field coach for four years at Union Catholic High School. She earned a master’s degree in Educational Leadership from Seton Hall University in 2009 and a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education in 2002 from St. Joseph’s University.

“Mrs. McCabe is a caring and knowledgeable leader. When we had to move to all-remote learning last spring, we did not have time to conduct a thorough search for a new assistant principal,” said Superintendent Dr. Margaret Dolan. “Mrs. McCabe was appointed to the interim position and began work immediately. Now, having been able to set up an interview committee to vet candidates thoughtfully and thoroughly, we are very happy to recommend Mrs. McCabe as assistant principal at Franklin School.”

“Mary immediately hit the ground running as interim assistant principal and I am grateful for her calm leadership during this challenging year,” added Duncan. “We work well together and it is with great confidence that I, too, recommend her for this important position.”

“The Westfield School District is an exceptional community to be a part of and I am very proud to be Franklin School’s Assistant Principal,” said McCabe. “We have learned so much from this extraordinary school year and I believe that we will be stronger because of it. I look forward to continuing my work with Dr. Duncan and the teachers, students, and families of Franklin School.”

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