LYNNFIELD — The Town of Lynnfield has a new Superintendent of Schools.
The School Committee announced Monday night that Swampscott resident Kristen S. Vogel has been chosen to succeed outgoing Superintendent Jane Tremblay. Tremblay is retiring at the end of June.
The announcement was made following ZOOM interviews of the finalists, Vogel and Reading Assistant Superintendent of Schools, Christine M. Kelley.
“I am obviously very thrilled for a lot of reasons as Lynnfield is a perfect fit for me and my style,” said Vogel. “Their values and vision are very much aligned with mine, which is why I applied for the position. Lynnfield is a small community that values and cares about the education of its students, and that came out loud and clear. I’m excited knowing I am inheriting an excellent team that will allow the district to continue the success it has had for so many years.”
Vogel comes to Lynnfield from Tewksbury High School, where she served as principal for the past six years. She is slated to start July 1.
“We still have to negotiate a contract, but I am really, really excited about Kristen,” said School Committee Chairman Jamie Hayman. “Throughout this whole process, we have heard from so many of her peers about her education leadership, compassion, and vision. We feel that we got a person who is like Jane in all the right ways, yet different enough in other areas to keep us going in the right direction, one that will also open some new doors for us.”
A Middletown, Conn., native, Vogel graduated from St. Lawrence University in 1989 with a B.A. in history, where she played women’s ice hockey and rowed.
Vogel began her career as a teacher at then Governor Dummer Academy, teaching history and coaching ice hockey and field hockey from 1990-1998. She taught history and was the Social Studies Curriculum Director at Swampscott High from 1998-2005, then served as that school’s Assistant Principal of Instruction, Curriculum and Professional Development from 2005-2006.
From 2006-2014, Vogel was an assistant principal at Bedford High before moving on to Tewksbury in June 2014. She also was an adjunct professor of history at Salem State University from 2010-2014.
Vogel said one of the main reasons why she applied for the position was Lynnfield’s small size, comparing it to Swampscott, where she has lived with her husband, John, and daughters, Sarah and Annie, for 22 years.
“I love Swampscott and it is very similar to Lynnfield with the same number of schools,” she said. “Both of my daughters had excellent experiences in the public schools and Swampscott is a wonderful town.
“Being small allows me to connect with parents, students and families,” Vogel said. “I want to be in the trenches, in the classroom, at concerts and plays and at sporting events to be a part of students’ milestones, which you cannot do in larger districts. I want to know what’s happening in the schools and know the challenges our families are facing, especially today when we are in a crisis.”
Tremblay said she is confident that Vogel will make a successful transition.
“I am excited for her as she starts her journey as superintendent in Lynnfield,” Tremblay said. “I am also excited for Lynnfield as I believe she is a dedicated and compassionate educator who cares deeply about students, colleagues and family. I look forward to working with her during the transition process.”
Hayman had high praise for the Selection Committee, which worked diligently through the pandemic crisis to stay true to its timetable.
“This worked out so much better than we hoped and expected in terms of the virtual site visits and meetings and the virtual meet-and-greet sessions with parents and the superintendent,” said Hayman. “With everything else going on in the world, the committee was able to stay professional. I cannot begin to calculate the hundreds of hours that more than 500 people put in to find the best person to lead the district over the next few years.”
