Superintendent names new Canton High School principal

Jeff Granatino, superintendent of the Canton Public Schools, announced last week that he has offered the position of Canton High School principal to Derek Folan, pending successful negotiations.

Currently a vice principal at Franklin High School, Folan will replace Dr. Doug Dias, who has served as CHS principal for the past five years. Dias has accepted the principal position at Medway High School.

Folan majored in English and journalism at the University of New Hampshire, where he graduated summa cum laude in 1997. He went on to take part in a Post‐Baccalaureate Teacher Certification program at Bridgewater State University before receiving his master’s degree in education‐organizational management from Endicott College in 2005.

He began his career in education 14 years ago after a brief stint as a sports journalist for a local newspaper. He served as an educational assistant at Bi‐County Collaborative before teaching English at North Attleboro High School. As a teacher, he also served on the School Council and Faculty Advisory Council, while also taking part in a variety of NEASC‐related committees.

During his time in the classroom, he also helped develop and draft the school’s MCAS English Review Curriculum, which was designed to enhance the reading and writing skills of at‐risk students. Along with his teaching responsibilities, Folan coached football and tennis while at North Attleboro High School.

Folan moved on to Franklin High School in 2006, assuming the role of vice principal. Part of his responsibilities over the past six years has revolved around student accountability, services and discipline for over 800 students in grades 10 and 12. As vice principal, he has spent time as chair of the grade 9 collaborative teams, instructional support teams, and helped supervise the school’s alternative learning program.

In addition, Folan has served on the district literacy and curriculum teams and worked on the FHS Visioning Team for the upcoming building renovation at Franklin High school. A member of the MSSAA Educational Policy and High School Committees, Folan is also a trained evaluator in the state’s Early Adopter Evaluation Program.

Folan is excited to bring his wide array of educational and administrative skills to Canton High School, where he will join a team of highly dedicated and compassionate educators. He notes that he is “passionate about students and learning” and possesses “a tremendous commitment to educational improvement.” Folan will begin his term as Canton High School principal on July 1.

Granatino would like to thank the principal search committee, which spent the last month reviewing candidates, hosting focus groups, and conducting interviews. The committee, chaired by Curriculum Director Jen Henderson, included CHS faculty members Maureen Dickie, Donna Creed‐Bauman, Rebecca Ashley, Sarah Collmer, Danny Erickson, and Dan Rubin; CHS student Selwyn Rogers; School Committee member Cindy Thomas; Student Services Director Debra Bromfield; principals Peter Boucher and Bill Conard; Canton human resources director and parent Jody Middleton; and CHS parent Dr. Rose Ann Berwald.

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Posted by Canton Citizen on May 9 2012. Filed under Uncategorized. Both comments and pings are currently closed.