Foley will retire, Farrell to lead JHS

Seniors from the Class of 2013 won’t be the only ones leaving Johnston High School for good come June. At a meeting Monday, the School Committee accepted the resignation of Principal Gerry Foley, effective on June 30.

Stepping into his place is Assistant Principal Zachary Farrell.

“I was asked by the superintendent if I would be interested in pursuing this new role and I was very, very excited from the beginning,” Farrell said yesterday. “My common goal is always to work in the best interest of the students. That’s primarily what my motivator is.”

While Foley could not be reached for comment yesterday, the announcement does not come as a shock, as he has enjoyed a long career in education in Rhode Island. He joined the Panthers in September of 2010 at the age of 62, after 21 years as the principal of North Kingstown High School. His career also brought him to chair the Rhode Island Principals Committee on Athletics, and he has been a Rotarian for more than 20 years.

Superintendent Dr. Bernard Di Lullo thanked Foley for his three years of service, and for being a positive role model for students.

“He certainly has added a lot to the high school. You’ll find Gerry at all of the school events and athletic activities – he’s always out there taking pictures and formulating relationships with the students,” Di Lullo said. “We’re very pleased with the work he has done.”

Farrell looks forward to filling those shoes, and he believes having a familiar face in the principal’s office will be a comfort to students and staff.

“I think it presents to them a sense of continuity,” he said. “One of the advantages of me having this new position, I think not just for them but for me, is I know the student body, I know the teachers and they know where I stand. We have common ground already. We already work together really well.”

Di Lullo agrees, and said that although Farrell is a familiar face, he will bring something new to the table as principal.

“He is someone with new ideas, and he is very motivated to bring Johnston High School to a higher level,” he said.

Di Lullo is also glad that Farrell is likely to stay on long-term, enabling him to create a long-range plan for the school and see it through.

“There’s a commitment in terms of staying on at the school and having the time to make the changes that are necessary to make,” he said.

A resident of Johnston, Farrell graduated from the University of Rhode Island with degrees in history and political science, and earned his master’s degree in European history from Providence College. He was in the classroom as a history and social studies teacher for more than eight years at North Providence High School, at the same time pursuing his administrative certification.

When the position at Johnston High School opened up, he jumped at the opportunity, combining his love for teaching with his administrative talents. He has been at the school now for three and a half years.

“I think it gives you perspective from both sides, from the administrator’s side and a teacher’s side. It gives you a clearer picture of the needs of students,” he said of his background. “I try to do my best to meet the students needs’ and having that perspective across the spectrum of individual needs has helped me.”

Looking ahead to the fall, Farrell understands the challenges that he will face as principal.

“I think the biggest challenge in my new capacity as principal is going to be navigating the changes that are going on at the state level,” he said.

Johnston, like schools across the state, has had to adapt to major changes in expectations for students and teachers alike. As teachers become accustomed to a rigorous new system of evaluation, students are simultaneously faced with the NECAP test and must be proficient in order to graduate. Math scores have been a concern locally, and Farrell will continue the work ensuring all students are proficient.

Despite the pressure that students are under, he believes it is the less measurable factors that define the school climate. In a letter he sent to the Sun Rise in July of 2012, he took umbrage with the state Department of Education’s label of “typical” used to describe the majority of Johnston schools.

“A more complete portrait can be gauged by the intangible things that define our school,” he wrote, “factors such as school spirit, community support, extra-curricular participation, a burgeoning arts program, a second-to-none music program, a vibrant honors program, athletic championships, community partnerships, active alumni, faculty dedication and especially student devotion.”

Farrell still holds firm to that belief, and said that when he came to Johnston from North Providence, he was “astounded” by the level of school spirit.

“It’s something that, in this day and age, can fall by the wayside,” he said. “The climate here is great – the school spirit is fantastic and that’s evident by the participation level of the students and the faculty here.”

Getting to interact with those students and faculty members is a highlight in his day. He often brings his two children, ages 3 and 1½, to “daddy’s school” to share that enthusiasm with them.

“My favorite part of the job is working with students and faculty on a daily basis and really promoting the positive things that go on here every day,” he said.

At only 33 years old, Farrell has moved up the ladder quickly, but for now, this is exactly where he wants to stay.

“I’m looking forward to a very long career and this is the place I want to be,” he said.