Kristopher Theriault will be principal at Fairview Veterans Memorial Middle School; Lynn Clark will become principal of Gen. John J. Stefanik School.
Kristopher Theriault leads a group of students outside when he was a world cultures teacher at Chicopee High School.CHICOPEE – Two schools will start the next academic year in September with new principals and a third is searching for a new vice principal.
Kristopher J. Theriault, who most recently has been a vice principal at Chicopee Comprehensive High School has been promoted to principal at Fairview Veterans Memorial Middle School. He will earn about $91,000 in his first year of his contract, Superintendent Richard W. Rege Jr. said.
The hiring came after Jennifer S. Dold, the principal of Gen. John J. Stefanik School, resigned to take a job as principal of Holland Elementary School, which is near her home in Monson, Rege said.
When Dold left, Lynn A. Clark, who had been the head of Fairview since 2008, asked Rege if he would move her to the job in the elementary school.
“Mrs. Clark did a great job but her first love is elementary and she wanted to return there,” Rege said.
Clark, who previously had been principal of Anna E. Barry, offered to take over at Fairview Middle School at a time when the school was in turmoil and the former principal had just left. Rege praised the work Clark did in a difficult situation and said he could not deny her request, especially because she took over the school as a favor to him.
Theriault has a variety of experience, serving as a vice principal at Edward J. Bellamy Middle School before taking the job as vice principal at Comprehensive High. He previously worked as a social studies teacher and the history department head at Chicopee High School, Rege said.
“I’ve watched his progression and he had the skill set I was looking for,” Rege said.
Rege said he also knew Theriault had been considering moving to a principal job and did not want to lose him from the Chicopee system.
Because Theriault had the skills and talents he wanted, Rege appointed him immediately instead of asking for applicants for the job.
Neither Theriault nor Clark could be reached for comment. Clark is on vacation.
