Eric Nakajima,
Amherst-Pelham Regional School Committee Chair, and Anastasia Ordonez, Union 26
School Committee Chair, are pleased to announce that the committees have voted
to extend the appointment of Dr. Michael Morris as Interim Superintendent of
the Amherst, Pelham and Regional Schools for the 2017-2018 school year. The unanimous vote of both committees
occurred at a joint meeting held on Tuesday, April 4, 2017, and the vote is
contingent upon successful contract negotiations between Dr. Morris and the
School Committees.
A 16-year veteran in the
districts, Morris began his work in the district as a 5th and 6th grade teacher
at Fort River Elementary School. He then became the principal of Crocker Farm
Elementary School before moving into district administration first as Director
of Evaluation and Assessment and then as Assistant Superintendent. Morris was appointed Interim
Superintendent in September 2016.
“The committee is
grateful to Dr. Morris for his steady leadership over the past year,” said Eric
Nakajima, “he is a gifted educational leader and we are looking forward to a
full academic year in which he can work with us, the staff and community to
advance our mission of educational excellence for all students.”
Dr. Morris holds a
Bachelor's degree from Amherst College, a Master's and CAGS from the University
of Massachusetts at Amherst, and a Doctoral degree from Boston College. His
work on Educator Evaluation has been profiled as one of the four exemplary
districts in the state by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and
Secondary Education. He has also presented at statewide conferences on a
variety of topics for the Massachusetts Association of School Superintendents,
the Massachusetts Elementary Principals' Association, DESE's Spring Convening
on Educator Evaluation, as well as others.
“I have enjoyed the
opportunity to serve as Interim Superintendent and to work collaboratively with
the School Committees and the outstanding faculty and staff of our districts on
behalf of our students,” Morris stated.
“I look forward to continuing that work for another year.”
"Teachers, parents,
staff and community leaders have repeatedly expressed their enthusiastic
support for Dr. Morris's work so far, and I'm pleased that the Committees voted
to have him continue as Interim Superintendent for the next academic
year," said Ms. Ordonez. "Dr. Morris is a steady and collaborative
leader who is committed to the excellence of all our students, and we are
grateful for his many years of service to this community and school
district."
