The principal widely credited for turning around Haverhill’s Tilton School, will be sharing her expertise districtwide when she becomes chief of Teaching, Learning and Leading next week.
Bonnie Antkowiak, who took charge of turning around scores and outcomes at Tilton School five years, ago was named to the post last week by Superintendent Margaret Marotta. Marotta tells WHAV Antkowiak has achieved successes at other schools too.
“Bonnie has been a respected principal in Haverhill for, gosh, 20 years now. She has worked in multiple, multiple schools. She’s turned around multiple schools, including the fantastic work she has done at the Tilton,” she said.
In her position, Marotta explains, Antkowiak will be shaping future talent. “It’s going to be great to have her at central office to help develop new leaders across the school district—hopefully with the talents she has,” Marotta says.
Antkowiak, who was one of several area educators honored in 2018 as a YMCA Educator of the Year, will be replaced at Tilton on an interim basis by Assistant Principal Erin MacKay.
The school leadership change is one of many taking place this year. Diane Seibold, who comes from the Dudley-Charlton Regional School District, takes over as principal at Bradford Elementary School, while former Haverhill High School Principal Beth Kitsos, who had been filling in as principal at the John Greenleaf Whittier School, becomes principal at Walnut Square School.
The superintendent lauded Kitsos’ work of over 30 years. “She’s really been around doing the work in Haverhill for a long time and wants to stay, but she also wants to retire and golf, enjoy life a little bit. So, she’s going to do part-time at Walnut Square,” she explains.
Other changes include Principal John Mele and Assistant Principal Richard Poor voluntarily trading places at the Dr. Albert B. Consentino School, and Principal Maureen Gray and Assistant Principal James Brennan doing the same at Pentucket Lake Elementary School. Timothy Betty is replacing Brian Gill as principal of the John Greenleaf Whittier School. Gill is leaving to become interim principal at Amesbury Middle School.
There is a search ongoing to fill the job of Silver Hill principal which is being vacated by Mary Ellen Lucas.