Finalists announced for Swampscott High principal job

SWAMPSCOTT – Out of 25 candidates, four finalists for the high school principal position have been selected, superintendent Matthew Malone announced Tuesday. The finalists are Brian L. Salzer, Kathleen Dawson, Philip Conrad and Layne Millington.?Each of the four finalists is exceptionally well qualified and prepared to lead Swampscott High School,” Malone said.Salzer is currently principal of Newton South High School and prior to his tenure there he served as principal of Sauk Prairie High School in Prairie du Sac, Wisconsin. Salzer, who has taught both English and social studies, has a Bachelor’s Degree in English from the University of Wisconsin. He also has two Masters Degrees in Educational Leadership and Policy from the University of Wisconsin.Last year Salzer was one of eight finalists in the running for the Lynn Public Schools Superintendent position but, according to Lynn school officials, Salzer withdrew his name from the list.Dawson is currently the assistant principal of Brookfarm Academy, a small high school in the Boston Public Schools. Prior to her stint at Brookfarm Academy, she served as an assistant headmaster and unit leader at both Hyde Park High School and Charlestown High School in the Boston Public Schools. Dawson, who also taught math at Charlestown High School, holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Education from the University of Wisconsin and an Masters Degree from Harvard University in School Leadership. She is curently a doctoral candidate at the University of Pennsylvania.Conrad is the assistant principal of Hamilton-Wenham High School. He previously served as the chairman of the Fine Arts Department at Hamilton-Wenham High School and Timberlane Regional High School in Plaistow, N.H. Conrad holds a BFA from UMASS-Amherst, a Master’s Degree in Education from Lesley College and a Master’s Degree in School Leadership from Endicott College.Millington is the assistant principal at Belmont High School. He was previously a science department chairman and physics teacher at Georgetown High School. Prior to his tenure in Georgetown, Millington taught science at Wakefield High School and Springfield High School in Springfield, Vermont. Millington, who has also been employed by Mellon Financial, holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Science and a Masters Degree in Curriculum from Castleton State College and a Certificate in Advacned Graduate Studay in Educational Leadership from Salem State College.All four candidates will visit the high school this week and next week. Malone said the district hopes to hire and sign a contract with the next principal sometime in April.High School Principal Lawrence Murphy is leaving the district June 30 when his three-year contract expires. Murphy said he loves the the town and high school but he is looking for opportunities a little closer to his home in Winchendon.