Grady Will Miss Teaching, Face New Challenges

At its meeting last week, the School Committee announced the appointment of eighth-grade English teacher Maryellen Grady as Hopkinton Middle School's new assistant principal. Grady will replace Jason Webster.

Grady choked up a little on the last day of school this year as she read Oh, the Places You'll Go to eighth-graders on the Dowd teaching team which she was part of, saying that it was the last time she would read to students as a teacher.

Grady's colleague, science teacher Linda Brooks,  who with other members of the Dowd team also read parts of Dr. Seuss's last book concerning life and its challenges, assured her that no matter what her title is, she will always be a teacher.

In an interview after the school committee meeting, Hopkinton Middle School Principal Alan Keller described a lengthy interview process where he initially interviews candidates, then he and a staff committee conduct further interviews, then Superintedent of Schools Jack Phelan, the central office staff and Keller conduct a final interview.

Phelan then made the job offer, and Grady accepted. 

Patch writer Leda Arakelian contributed to this report.