Robert Parga Named the Next Principal of Medfield High School

After a long and intensive process that lasted over several months, Medfield Superintendent of Schools, Bob Maguire, has named Blake Middle School principal Robert Parga as the next principal at Medfield High School.

“Having gone through the process, there is no doubt in my mind [Parga] was the best available candidate,” said Maguire. “I’m excited about the opportunity to keep him here in Medfield and to continue to work with him closely.”

Parga has nine years of educational experience in Massachusetts, serving five years as assistant principal at Kennedy Middle School in Natick and the past four years as the principal of Blake Middle School in Medfield.

“Certainly his experience in Medfield is helpful in the sense that I think that parents hold him in high regard,” Maguire said. “He has a great relationship with students and he knows the community well in his time here.”

Parga explained it was that experience with faculty and projects at the high school that initially intrigued him to apply for the open position.

“Over the past few years, I've been able to work with staff at the high school on several projects,” Parga said. “Those interactions have given me an opportunity to see how important teaching and learning is to them and also just how passionate they are about creating wonderful learning opportunities for the students.”

Parga said he wanted to become a principal because he felt he could make a positive impact in a leadership position in a school environment and always enjoyed working with students.

“As a principal, there are many different personalities to understand and challenges that arise, often without notice,” said Parga. “I consider this type of work very stimulating. … The process of recognizing the needs of a student, supporting them and watching them grow is incredibly fulfilling.”

Maguire and the Medfield School Committee formed a High School Principal Search Committee and gathered and reviewed 22 applicants. The committee chose three candidates, including Parga, that they deemed as finalists and informed Maguire of their choices. From there, Maguire and his administrative team continued the interview process.

“I took the candidates through a series and other steps in a process that involved interviews with my administrative team and interviews that took place with me,” Maguire said. “[Candidates] toured the building and there was also a faculty interview.”

Maguire said in addition to those interviews, he and his team did an extensive background and reference check on each of the candidates.

“At the end of that process, [Parga] was the best candidate,” Maguire said.

Other finalists considered for the position were: Derek Folan, current Assistant Principal of Franklin High School and Richard Manley, current Humanities teacher at Windham High School in Windham, N.H.

Maguire said Parga has certain characteristics and skills that enable him to relate well with teachers, faculty, students and parents  – making him an ideal fit at MHS.

“How he deals with people and how he relates to people,” said Maguire. “He comes across as someone who is very level headed. He’s very even in his demeanor. He approaches issues and problems. He’s very thoughtful. I think he’s someone who takes a lot of input and tries to build consensus on the various issues that he deals with.  There a lot of inter-personal skills that he has that makes himself a good leader.”

Another selling point for Parga, according to Maguire, is his interest and knowledge in educational technology, which is something the superintendent is trying to improve and facilitate throughout the Medfield school system.

“[Parga] has some specific interests and skills that are timely for us,” Maguire said. “He’s someone that is very interested in the whole area of educational technologies. He’s someone that over the past two years has been part of a team that I have been working with to sort through some of the things that we need to do as a district in order to continue to move forward. He’s been very involved in that and very thoughtful in that.”

Parga has also been involved in curriculum changes that have been made with the language program and the Chinese Exchange Program.

“It’s been a whole series of things like that that I have been able to work very closely with him and been able to see how he moves different kinds of goals forward in a very effective,” said Maguire.

An advantage Parga and Medfield High School have from hiring within the school system is Parga can begin preparing and transitioning into his new position immediately.

“I think it’s great,” said Maguire. “One of the side advantages to him being the best candidate to fill the job is that he’s here now. He’s working now with the high school principal on his transition. He’s already met with the high school faculty and I know he’s in the middle of setting up meetings with some of the teachers there.

“He’s beginning to do the kinds of things a principal stepping into a new building  needs to do and he’s doing it before July 1. There’s a big advantage in the sense that he’s not the principal of the high school yet, he has the opportunity to really get engaged in a meaningful way and what is going on over the next few months. So he’ll be up to speed very quickly.”

While Parga is excited for the opportunity, he will miss what the relationships he has formed at Blake over the past four years. 

“I’ll miss the students at Blake,” Parga said. “However, there is comfort knowing that I will have an opportunity to work with them as they make their way through Medfield High School. I’ll miss the staff at Blake dearly. I have learned a great deal from them and will always hold them in high regard.”

Fittingly, the first senior class Parga will be principal of at the high school, was the first eighth grade class he had at Blake.

“It is a great feeling knowing that I will be able to see them off as the graduating class of 2012,” Parga said.

Parga said he embraces the uniqueness of the Medfield school system and is looking forward to being apart of it at the high school level.

“The Medfield school system is very unique,” said Parga. “The level of support that this community provides to us continues to amaze me. I consider it a privilege to work with a school committee and administration that values the important work that we do.”

Parga will take over at the high school on July 1, replacing current MHS principal, Judy Noble, who is retiring after 37 years of service in the Medfield school system.

“I want to be able to enjoy time with my spouse [Pat],” Noble said of retiring. “Family is very important to me and this position is very time consuming.”

Noble said she isn’t certain what retirement holds for her but there are a few things she would like to do.

“I haven’t fully decided, yet,” Noble said. “Pat and I are talking about a trip to Ireland next fall. I also enjoy playing golf and will probably do more of that and there are crafts that I haven’t done in awhile.”

While the void left by Noble is great, Parga is ready to take the next step in his academic career and continue to serve the Medfield students and community.

“I'm looking forward to this challenge,” said Parga. “I'm very grateful to have supportive wife and family that understands the commitment required of a job such as this. I am thrilled to be able to continue my work in a leadership capacity here in Medfield.”