Moments before Monday’s School Committee meeting began, an email went out to Bromfield parents announcing that Robin Benoit would become the school’s new associate principal as of July 1, when Scott Hoffman moves up to principal. A little later, Superintendent Linda Dwight told the committee that Benoit had signed a contract for the position that afternoon. “I think she will be a wonderful addition to our team,” Dwight said.
The week before, on June 8, Benoit had come to Bromfield for a public forum after school. At that time Hoffman summarized the search process that had led to her selection as a finalist. From an original pool of 77 applicants, he said, he had selected the 25 most qualified resumes and given them to a search committee of teachers, staff, students, and parents. That committee narrowed the field to 10 semifinalists, then to two finalists, one of whom withdrew. “That’s a lot of competition to be still standing,” Hoffman said as he welcomed Benoit to the forum.
‘It’s all about kids’
At the forum Benoit said she was beginning her 21st year as an educator and called herself “a student of the craft of teaching.” She said the job of a school administrator is to meet the needs of students and to provide support for teachers. “At the end of the day, it’s all about kids,” she said.
When a questioner asked about the needs of “average kids who do not always feel valued,” Benoit said her outlook is based on perspective she gained as a cross-country coach, when she focused on helping all kids improve and do their best.
During her daylong visit to Bromfield, Benoit said she had asked both students and staff, “What’s great about going here?” In their answers, she said, everyone had emphasized “the people and relationships,” which left her impressed with the strong sense of community at the school.
Asked about her view of the role of parents, Benoit said, “They are part of the school community, with a vested interest in their child—it’s a partnership … You need to involve them in authentic ways.”
For the past year, Benoit has held an interim position as the STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) coordinator for the Nashoba Regional School District. She has taught in that district since 2009, before which she taught for nine years at the Concord Middle School and three years at the Parker Charter School.
Her work has involved extensive curriculum development, the creation of both teacher and parent surveys, implementing professional development programs for teachers, mentoring new teachers, managing grants, and aligning curriculum with state STEM standards.
Benoit earned a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Maine, a Master of Education from Fitchburg State, and an advanced certificate in administration from the Commonwealth Leadership Academy.
