Seekonk Schools Welcome New Administrators

Seekonk Public Schools has hired three new administrators for the 2021-2022 academic year. George Kelleher, the former Assistant Principal at Hurley Middle School, has been appointed to the position of Director of Student Services. Before his arrival in Seekonk, Kelleher had worked as a Special Educator in the Dedham Public Schools for four years, as an Alternative Learning Center Teacher and ESL Teacher for the Stoughton Public Schools and as a Social Studies Teacher for the Attleboro Evening Diploma Program.

Dr. Matthew Mare is now serving as the Assistant Principal for the Hurley Middle School. Mare had served as a middle school social studies teacher for close to 10 years. Mare also served on the district’s Educational Equity Committee and has been a curriculum writer for the National Council of History Education.

Jennifer McKay is the new Principal of Martin Elementary School. Before her arrival in Seekonk, McKay served first as an Assistant Principal and then Principal of Greene Elementary School in Fall River for almost five years.

The Seekonk Public Schools is about to launch a project called “Vision of a Graduate” which will unite school faculty, parents, and community members to consider the skills, knowledge, and competencies students should have upon graduation from high school. 

There will be two evening meetings held in October to discuss the future of the schools. Superintendent Rich Drolet has instituted a Test and Stay policy which allows students or staff members who have had close contact with a person who tested positive for Covid-19 while at school to stay in school as long as they are not displaying symptoms. Instead of being required to quarantine and miss school, these students or staff will take a daily rapid staff while they remain in school as long as they are not symptomatic. Students or staff members participate in “test and stay” for at least five days after possible exposure. “It’s still a concern,” said Drolet of possible outbreaks, noting 95 percent of the school staff are vaccinated, along with 60 to 70 percent of the student population ages 12 and older.

All students and staff are required to wear masks as mandated by the state of Massachusetts. Although some parents have been vocal in their opposition, Drolet said the majority support the wearing of masks to prevent the spread of the virus. Drolet is certain there will not be a repeat of the previous school year’s hybrid learning program which resulted in students learning remotely: “I’m confident we will keep schools open this year.”