Page 12 — THE CONWAY DAILY SUN, Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Former Pine Tree student is school's next principal BY LLOYD JONES THE CONWAY DAILY SUN
CONWAY — After 23 years as principal of Pine Tree School, Laura Jawitz is confident when she retires in June that the school will be in good hands. Her successor is a former Pine Tree student, Aimee Frechette, of Conway. "Aimee went to Pine Tree so I think the choice is fabulous, Jawitz said. Frechette, who is the current student services coordinator and special education teacher at Kennett Middle School, was unanimously (6-0) hired last week by the Conway School Board at its April 11 meeting. Frechette and Justin, her husband and a former Conway School Board member, were in attendance at the meeting and received well-wishes from the other principals within the district and a nice ovation from the board and audience members. "Congratulations Aimee, we all want to welcome you aboard," Conway Elementary School principal Brian Hastings said, smiling. "Congratulations to you Justin. Take a good look at her because you won't see much of her from here on." "I'm thrilled," Frechette said, "and really looking forward to the opportunity. I'm very excited, but this is such a super crazy time at the middle school with the sixth graders transitioning in and the eighth transitioning out. I met with Laura on Monday to start the transition. It's going to be great." Frechette was one of the founders of the Bookmobile at Conway Elementary School which for the previous three summers delivered books to youngsters who might otherwise have taken the summer off from reading. Frechette, while a student at Kennett High, was the star of "Conway Girl," the remake of the 1950's classic, "Conway Boy," which depicted the life of a Kennett student growing up in the Mount Washington Valley. Superintendent Carl Nelson said the position was advertised across New England with 29 people eventually applying. Nine candidates were then interviewed by a screening committee, which recommended Frechette for the post. The school board interviewed Frechette March 14 and concurred with the committee. Nelson said Frechette has agreed to a two-year contract beginning July 1 through June 30, 2013. She will receive a salary of $70,000 (Jawitz was at $80,342) for a 215-day work schedule, According to Nelson, the total estimated tax burden of the hire based on annual salary and benefits is between $86,923 to $98,105.
Aimee Frechette has been named to replace Laura Jawitz as principal of Pine Tree School. (JAMIE GEMMITI PHOTO)
"We're very pleased to be able to promote one of our own," Nelson said. "I think we're lucky to have her. I'm sure she's ready to start the year." Frechette, a 2000 graduate of Kennett High School, received her BA in education and psychology from Northeastern University graduating the five-year program in just three years. She received her master's degree in education leadership, which comes with a principal certification from the University of New England. Frechette also is certified in special education and elementary education while being certified as a principal and special education administrator. Frechette taught first and second grade at Conway Elementary School for five years and has been at Kennett Middle School for the past two years working three and a half days a week there. A member of the board of directors for Children Unlimited and Act I Dance in Fryeburg where she's also an instructor, Frechette and her husband have three children: April, who will attend Pine Tree as a freshman in the Fall; Izzy, who is in preschool; and Boden, who turned 2 on Wednesday. A day after the announcement, Jawitz was still delighted with the hire. "I'm very pleased with the choice," Jawitz said by phone. "I kind of knew Aimee was one of the candidates. I was thrilled when I heard it was her; she'll do great. I think it'll be a good transition, and with a new personality coming in the change will be good."
Jawitz shared the news of Frechette's hiring with the Pine Tree faculty, and it was well received. "I know Aimee's excited and the staff here is very excited, too," Jawitz said. "She was Aimee Rabideau when she came to school here in second or third grade. I'm delighted to see someone with such ties to the school and community coming back. We'll spend a lot of time over the next few months working on a smooth transition. I feel very excited about handing off (the principal baton) to a familiar face." Frechette plans to spend one day a week for the rest of this school year at Pine Tree with Jawitz learning the ropes and meeting staff, students and parents. "Pine Tree to me is so rich in tradition," she said. "I really appreciate those long-standing community ties, and when you walk into the building you can just feel the positive energy. I know I'll be supported by the staff and the community. "I think I can relate to being a first-year teacher in this district and getting a pink slip," Frechette continued. "I've been there, it's happened to me. Also, I know what it's like to be a one-to-one aide working with severely handicapped students. I do know the ins and outs of this district. Most of my education experience is in this valley. I also have created relationships with other staff members and administrators. It's going to be nice if I need something I can call one of the other principals and they'll help. Kevin (Richard, middle school principal) has been great. He's a huge resource and is tremendous with people." Jawitz has been at the helm of Pine Tree since 1988, but has been within SAU 9 for a total of 33 years. For 10 years prior to accepting the principal post in Center Conway, she served as Title I coordinator for SAU 9 (Madison, Tamworth and Freedom were members of the SAU at that time before later creating SAU 13). Through Title I, the federal government disburses money to school districts based on the number of low-income families in each district as determined by census data. Each district uses its Title I money to supplement and improve regular education programs offered to help students meet state standards. "Thirty-three years is a long time, but it doesn't seem like it's been that long," Jawitz said. "One thing I can say about this job is you never get bored. I've made so many wonderful friendships with teachers, parents and students here. (Laughing) I figured it was time when former students were starting to send their children here for first grade." "Laura deserves to feel she's leaving the school in good hands," Frechette said, smiling.
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