North Andover High School principal expected to stay

By Drake Lucas
Staff writer

February 11, 2008 05:39 am

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NORTH ANDOVER — Interim High School Principal Carla Scuzzarella is expected to be hired permanently to the position after six months on the job.

A search committee was formed to find a new principal, and its recommendation was to keep Scuzzarella, a move that Interim Superintendent James Marini said he supports.

"I think she is doing a great job," Marini said. "I think she hit the decks running."

In anticipation of hiring her permanently, he brought her before the School Committee last Thursday. Marini will do the hiring but said he wants the decision to be embraced by the committee and community.

The School Committee praised Scuzzarella for her work getting the high school through the accreditation process and easing some of the morning traffic and parking concerns at the high school. Marini said he also appreciated the way she has worked with students, parents and the high school faculty.

"I feel really positive about what has happened at the high school this year," School Committee Member Chris Allen said.

Scuzzarella came to North Andover High School from Beverly High School last summer after former Principal Susan Nicholson took a job as assistant superintendent in Andover.

Scuzzarella said her goals for the high school are to elevate the academic standards and work on the scheduling in the hopes of providing more choices and electives to students. She said she also wants to get more students taking advanced placement courses.

Before coming to North Andover High School, Scuzzarella spent eight years at Beverly High School, four of them as principal. She also worked as curriculum director for Melrose public schools and dean of academic affairs for Westford Academy.

Scuzzarella said she looked forward to continuing her work at North Andover High School.

"I enjoy the school tremendously," she said. "I'm very happy to be there."