Jane F. Norton Appointed Principal At Peebles

The Bourne Enterprise
Jun 19, 2015

Peebles Elementary School has a new principal.

Jane F. Norton, who has been serving as interim principal, has been chosen the fill the top job at the school on a permanent basis.

Her appointment takes effect July 1, pending final contract negotiations, schools superintendent Steven M. Lamarche said.

Mr. Lamarche described Ms. Norton as a graduate of Bourne High School, and she has incredible institutional and community knowledge. Her father, Philip A. Norton Sr., was the athletic director for Bourne, which contributes to her overall understanding of the community, and she understands children and all the development stages kids go through.”

Among her many positions, Ms. Norton has been the vice president of the Bourne Educators Association and has held various executive roles within that organization. She taught health at Bourne Middle School prior to her appointment as interim principal and is the physical education and wellness director for kindergarten to grade 12.

“Leadership doesn’t always came with a title, and she is an example of that. She has been a very strong leader in our district as a director, a department head for health and wellness, as vice president and treasurer of Bourne Educators Association. She has received experience in leadership roles culminating in her opportunity to lead Peebles Elementary.” Mr. Lamarche said of Ms. Norton.

Ms. Norton said she was heavily involved in the school community growing up. “My dad was a school administrator, I was in the school community groups and sports. I loved the whole education idea and I always knew I wanted to be a teacher,” she said.

Her father worked for the Bourne schools as the athletic director from 1973 to 1990.

“When I first came to Peebles, my first meeting with the faculty was amazing. The staff was courageous. They identified what they needed help with, including technology, communication with staff and dismissal procedures. It was about positive change,” Ms. Norton said of her first days at Peebles.

“I first taught at Norwell, but I was laid off due to a reduction in enrollment. At that time I went into the private sector, but I missed kids.” Ms. Norton explained that during those years she went to graduate school in a pilot program between Cape Cod Community College and Salem State to earn her master’s degree in school administration.

In 1993 she applied for a job at Bourne High School and began teaching physical education there. That led to her role on the Building Transition Committee, which facilitated the opening of the new middle school. At the time, she said knew she wanted to be in the middle school, and she went on to teach health to grades 5 through 8.

“By the end of the year I got to teach every kid in the building. I got to know all the kids over a four-year period. I watched them grow from elementary to high school, and the subject I taught was all about adolescence, health and behavior. It’s an important job, to help kids make good choices and be their best selves.”

She described her first few years at Bourne as teaching and building the program. “I accomplished a lot in Bourne, I got involved with the teachers union as treasurer and vice president, and worked as district coordinator for health and wellness for grades kindergarten through 12. This included lots of leadership on lots of committees. These years combined the best of all my worlds and passions, teaching and administration.” she said.

However, when the school moved to cut back on department heads and district coordinators, she started to think about an administrative position. “When the Peebles principal position opened up, it was initially interim, and that gave me a chance to see if I truly liked it and could do it well. It’s been an amazing four months here.”

“The start timing is everything. Just as the opportunity came up, Jane Norton had made the decision to look for a leadership position. The timing was impeccable,” Mr. Lamarche said. He is excited about the qualities Ms. Norton brings to the job, “beyond her knowledge of curriculum and instruction, she’s a people person. She believes in people, believes in who they are, and that they have great contributions to make to our system.”

During her interview process, Mr. Norton said the feedback for the last few months had all been positive. “There is improved climate and culture, and I give a lot of credit to the staff for their openness and trust. There have been a lot of honest and respectful conversations which make positive change. The kids would say the building is more structured and happier.” She said the kids have said that she is around the whole time. “The kids know me, I’ve worked hard to know them, to visit with consistency.” she said.

“She is also going to be a great contributor to Bourne Public Schools because of her experience,” Mr. Lamarche said.

Ms. Norton said she has had success in a short time. “I attribute it to the staff. They are committed and innovative. They work together, and I feel incredibly lucky to be where I am right now. In the last 20 years I’ve had the good fortune to work with so many wonderful administrators and teachers. I’ve reaped a lot of wisdom,” she said.

Mr. Lamarche originally announced Ms. Norton as the Peebles interim principal back in February, when Ms. Norton stepped in to replace principal Wayne D. Francis. Both teachers and parents of students at Peebles had been surprised by a February 11 announcement that Mr. Francis had been reassigned to the district’s central office on Sandwich Road in his fourth year as Peebles principal. At that time Mr. Lamarche declined to discuss specific details about Mr. Francis’s reassignment as sensitive personnel issues, a stance he currently maintains. He did say “Mr. Francis’s contract has not been renewed, and as of June 30 he will no longer be serving in the school system.”