Woods
UPDATED, July 12: Dr. Eileen Driscoll Woods, who had been interim principal at Dallin Elementary School from 2012 to 2014, has accepted the position of interim principal at the Ottoson Middle School, the Arlington Public Schools announced Monday, July 11.
The appointment was announced five days after Timothy R. Ruggere, principal since 2009, was reported heading to be principal of Triton Regional High School in Byfield, serving Newbury, Rowley and Salisbury, in northeastern Massachusetts, near New Hampshire. He began July 11.
“I am delighted to return to Arlington to serve the Ottoson Community and look forward to leading and making a difference for families and staff,” Woods wrote July 12 in response to a request to comment. “I have deep respect for educators and the complex, important work that they do daily. Fostering a supportive culture, creating strong teams and getting every student what they need to be successful learners is very important to me. I am honored to work with Dr. Bodie and the Leadership team this year.”
In a news release, Superintendent Kathleen Bodie wrote that Woods comes to Arlington after having retired from a distinguished career in Andover, where she was principal at both the South and Sanborn schools, and spent a year as assistant superintendent. This past year she served as the interim principal at the Driscoll School (K-8) in Brookline.
“It is a pleasure to welcome again such a talented leader to the Arlington Public Schools,” Bodie said in the release. “I look forward to working with her during the 2016-2017 school year as we search for a permanent principal for Ottoson Middle School.”
At Dallin, she was well respected for her leadership during those years, the release says.
While heading the Sanborn School in Andover, she prepared the proposal that led to the school’s Blue Ribbon School designation in 1991. The Blue Ribbon Schools Program is part of an effort by the U.S. Department of Education to identify and share knowledge about exceptional school leadership and teaching practices.
In 1998, Woods was named Massachusetts Principal of the Year, an award presented annually by the Massachusetts Elementary Schools Principals Association. The award recognizes those principals who have demonstrated clear leadership in developing successful programs for children and teachers, exceptional dedication to education, outstanding professionalism and an unselfish attitude toward helping others.
In August, Woods will be reaching out to families and staff to introduce herself. In the meantime, she can be reached at ewoods[@]arlington.k12.ma.us.
Woods received her Ed.D. at Nova Southeastern University and holds a master of education in school administration from the University of Massachusetts. Her undergraduate degree is from Boston College. She also holds a National Board Certification in mentoring principals.
March 2, 2009: Dedham Middle School principal to take over at Ottoson in July
March 3, 2009: Vigor, middle-school savvy guide new Ottoson principal
This news story was published Monday, July 11, 2016, and updated July 12, to add a quote and a photo.
