NAHANT – At Johnson Elementary School, it’s new Principal Heather Castonguay’s first year leading the way, with her sights on making sure the school stays on track to have the best year yet.
Castonguay sat down with The Item to talk in detail about stepping into the role and how her background in education has prepared her for it.
“I’m very family-oriented, and I always took great care of my nieces and nephews; I always had kids with me,” Castonguay explained. “As I was growing up and getting older, I was doing a lot of babysitting and helping kids with after-school activities. … I think that’s where my love for children really started.”
She added that she started by working in a preschool. She then became English for Specific Purposes (ESP) teacher’s assistant — her first position in Triton Public Schools — before going back to college and earning her Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education.
After she earned her degree, she went to work in schools in Topsfield, where she spent 10 years as a second grade teacher.
“Then, I kind of morphed and grew into a reading specialist before becoming a Curriculum Coordinator,” she said. “I’m always trying to move my knowledge base around.”
From there, she rose to a position that included the responsibilities of a curriculum director and principal in Rockport before serving as the Director of English Language Arts and World Languages. All together, her previous roles add up to 28 years in the field of education.
On the first day of the ‘25-26 school year, Castonguay gathered the teachers to compile a list of what the faculty felt was needed to launch another successful school year.
“We got it down to three school rules: be respectful, be responsible, and be safe,” she said. “Alongside their teachers, the students drafted ideas and pledges for their own class to hold true to the school rules. … It’s just exciting to see it come alive.”
Using the Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) model, the school has been able to create lessons that will help students with self-management and relationship-building to help them become more independent.
“I’m really proud of the work that the school is doing so far and how they’ve jumped right in to make sure that Johnson School can be the best school ever; we’re forging forward,” she said.
The school is also rolling out another new program called “Eureka Math” which she said has been vetted by the Department of Education, where she explained the program is considered High Quality Education Material (HQYM).
Castonguay said it will help all students be able to access what they need for academic success.
She also cited the hard-working members of the faculty.
“Our staff here is outstanding. … Another of my goals is for them to be able to feel proud of the work they do,” she said. “The students feel proud, and the families feel proud to say that their kids go to Johnson Elementary.”
When asked what it means to be able to make a tangible, instant impact on the lives of her students, she expressed that “I give what I ask of them.”
“I want them to be respectful, responsible, and safe — but I, too, have to stand by that and model that because we need to be there for these students and help them learn the skills they need to be successful,” Castonguay said.
