April 5, 2022 By Carol Britton Meyer
Matthew Scheufele has been appointed as the new Foster Elementary School principal, effective July 1.
Scheufele, who is currently serving as principal of Centerville Elementary School in the Barnstable Public Schools, began his career as a grades 3-5 classroom teacher at the Federal Furnace Elementary School in the Plymouth Public Schools.
From 2005-2007, he served as the vice principal of the Nathaniel Morton Elementary School, also part of the PPS district, before assuming his current role in 2007.
Interim Supt. of Schools Gary Maestas and Asst. Supt. Jamie LaBillois outlined the search process in a recent email to the Foster School community, including interviewing the six candidates for the position in early March.
Following a semi-finalist round of interviews with incoming Supt. of Schools Dr. Margaret Adams and comprehensive reference checking, three finalists were selected for further consideration.
"The three finalists visited Foster School on March 24 and met with a wide variety of people in homogeneous groups (faculty in one group, parents and community members in another, etc.) and provided feedback to Dr. Adams," the email explains.
The interview team consisted of administration (LaBillois, Assistant Superintendent & Search Committee Chair); Gregory Lamothe, Plymouth River Elementary School Principal; Jennifer Newell, Foster School Assistant Principal; Charleen Fabrizio, Elementary Administrator of Special Education; School Committee members Jennifer Benham and Kerry Ni; parents Vanessa Hsu, Joanna Sood, and Jennifer McGuire; and Foster School faculty members Madeline Martin, Ali Costa, and Maria Sandberg.
Scheufele holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Eastern Nazarene College and a Master of Education Degree from Bridgewater State University and has also completed the Teacher Certification program at Bridgewater State University as well as the Administrative Certification program through the Commonwealth Leadership Academy. He holds current certification from the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education as a Principal/Assistant Principal (PK-6).
"More important than his professional experience and training, however, are the personal and professional qualities that Mr. Scheufele brings to the position," Maestas and LaBillois agree. "From the interview, thorough reference checking with his colleagues and supervisors, past and present, and time spent throughout the interview process, it is quite apparent that he is the perfect fit to lead Foster Elementary School into the future."
LaBillois and Maestas noted that Scheufele is "passionate about students, their learning, and achievement" -- with a focus on maintaining and building upon the Foster School community of staff, students, and parents -- "and will be able to provide a strong sense of consistency to the Foster Elementary School community. Moreover, Mr. Scheufele has a deep sense of purpose and an engaging and dynamic personality. Mr. Scheufele and Ms. Newell, coupled with the dedicated and talented faculty and staff, wonderful students, and supportive parents who already exist at Foster, make for an exciting combination in the years ahead."
Schedule can be reached at mscheufele@hinghamschools.org with any questions or concerns.