Schools

New Wheelock Principal Spends Day in Medfield

Incoming Ralph Wheelock School principal Donna Olson recently spent a day in Medfield meeting her new community.

Donna Olson was beaming with excitement after recently spending a day in Medfield, where she will serve as the new principal of the.

“It’s really my pleasure to be here,” Olson said. “I was thrilled that I was the successful candidate of the [Wheelock School principal] search committee and I’m thrilled to be joining the team.”

Olson, who is currently the principal at Raymond C. LaPerche Elementary School in Smithfield, R.I., was hired in February after Superintendent of Schools Bob Maguire and the Wheelock School Principal Search Committee selected her out of a field of roughly 40 applicants.

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The new elementary school principal visited Medfield on May 7 to meet faculty, staff and students at the Wheelock School during the day and the town’s School Committee at night.

“I’m delighted to be joining a district and a team that is so supportive of education,” Olson said following her town visit. “I had the opportunity to go to Wheelock School and spend the day and I had a great opportunity to meet with many different groups of teachers and parents and it was a wonderful experience. I also got to go to lunch and meet a lot of the second graders so that was really fun to have them put a face with their new principal.”

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Olson has served as principal of Raymond C. LaPerche Elementary School since 2004 and expects a smooth transition into Medfield.

“I come from a small community,” Olson said. “I was born and raised in Smithfield, R.I. and I was able to come through the ranks and eventually become principal. We enjoyed a wonderful rapport and relationship with the school committee in our district.”

Olson is confident she will be able to develop the same relationships in Medfield.

“I’m really looking forward to working with all my new colleagues and getting to know all of you in our work together for the children of Medfield,” she said.

Maguire said he’s pleased to have someone of Olson’s caliber leading students at Ralph Wheelock School.

“The [principal search] committee felt very good about her and the folks at my level involved in the process that I conducted really loved her,” Maguire said. “I visited the district with a team of people and we really feel good about [the hiring].”


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