Etienne Pierre
Weslie Etienne Pierre has been hired as the first director of communications and family engagement in Arlington Public School, the district announced recently.
Her role will be to oversee creation and implementation of the district’s first “Family Welcome Center” and to direct all aspects of communication, registration and family engagement, according to APS.
“The appointment of Mrs. Etienne Pierre follows a thorough search that included more than 50 individuals from across Arlington, and I am grateful to the many community members who participated in the initial screening committee and joined finalist focus groups,” said APS Superintendent Elizabeth Homan.
“Throughout the interview process and performance tasks, Weslie impressed us with her exceptional technical and interpersonal skills -- and feedback unanimously praised both her technical and interpersonal skills,” Homan said.
“Weslie’s passion for education and equity is evident in all of her professional pursuits and is inspired by her experiences as a first-generation Haitian-American student and educator,” Homan said. “She consistently seeks to eliminate barriers, ensure equity in policies and procedures, and promote excellence for all students.”
Homan said Etienne Pierre has led effective change in a variety of settings including charter schools, public schools and nonprofit organizations. That background includes stakeholder engagement, leadership, coaching and curriculum development, and experience supporting educators to improve their practitioner skills.
Homan said Etienne Pierre attributes her career successes to effective communication and collaboration with stakeholders and that she sees family engagement as a crucial factor in promoting student success and positive outcomes in education. Families empowered to be actively involved in their children’s education are better able to provide a supportive environment that fosters learning and high academic achievement, according to the announcement.
Etienne Pierre holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology with a concentration in counseling & health from Emmanuel College in Boston. She obtained a master’s degree in education in curriculum and teaching with a focus on special education from Boston University. She is now pursuing a Ph.D. in educational leadership from Lesley University.
The new director is scheduled to begin serving July 1 at an annual salary of $130,000, according to Human Resources Director Robert Spiegel.
Initial information about the hiring of the new director was posted in a recent “Superintendent’s Update” message on the APS website.
This news announcement was published Monday, May 22, 2023, based on information from Arlington Public Schools officials.
