January 12, 2022 By Carol Britton Meyer
Foster School's Interim Principal Jennifer Arnold recently announced her plan to retire effective Friday, Jan. 21. Dr. Sheila Kukstis will step into this role for the remainder of the school year starting Monday, Jan. 24.
Asst. Supt. of Schools Jamie LaBillois said in a Jan. 11 email announcing this change that "Dr. Kukstis brings years of experience to the Foster community."
At the same time, LaBillois announced that he will host two Zoom community information sessions to share with the Foster School community the process for recruiting the new permanent principal, including the timeline and discussion on how members of the community can be part of either the interview or site visit team.
The community will also have an opportunity to share the characteristics they would like to see in the next principal as LaBillois compiles a candidate profile for use in the recruiting process.
Pre-registration for both meetings is requested (the Zoom links will be sent to those who register).
The sessions are as follows:
- Tuesday, Jan. 18, 6:30 p.m. Click HERE to register.
- Wednesday, Jan. 19, 9 a.m. Click HERE to register.
The same information will be presented at both sessions.
With regard to the new interim principal, Kukstis began her career as a special educator with the South Shore Educational Collaborative before becoming a program director there.
She has also served as principal of St. Andrew the Apostle School in Jamaica Plain, Joseph C. Chamberlain School in Taunton, and Saint Jerome School in Weymouth before transitioning to the role of assistant superintendent for academics/area superintendent for the Archdiocese of Boston.
She then returned to public education, serving as principal of Glover Elementary School in Milton and Barnstable Community Horace Mann Charter Public School in Hyannis before retiring in 2019.
Kukstis has since served as an educational consultant and as interim principal of St. Joseph School in Holbrook and twice as the interim principal of St. Anthony School in Everett.
"I hope you will join me in welcoming Dr. Kukstis to the Foster community and help her see why you are 'Foster's finest!'" LaBillois stated in the email.