WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — Faced with two strong contenders or a single principal position, the Mount Greylock Regional School District hired them both.
Superintendent Kimberley Grady on Thursday afternoon announced she has named Jake Schutz to be the principal at Mount Greylock Regional School and Kristen Thompson to the corner office at Williamstown Elementary.
Schutz is the current vice principal at the middle-high school. Thompson is an assistant principal at West Mesa High School in Albuquerque, N.M.
Three weeks ago, Schutz and Thompson were announced as the two finalists for the Mount Greylock position being vacated after seven years by Mary MacDonald.
“Both were equally strong for the Mount Greylock position,” Grady said. “But Kristen had the opportunity to be pulled into the finalist rounds at Williamstown Elementary.
“She initially hadn’t applied for the Williamstown position. Then there were people on both committees with me who said, ‘Wouldn’t it be great if she could interview for WES?’ “
Thompson has 11 years of experience in education, beginning her career as a kindergarten teacher. She also has taught middle school, according to an email Grady sent Thursday to the school community.
Grady said Thursday afternoon that the University of New Mexico graduate has family in Western Massachusetts and has visited the Berkshires.
