From the Principal’s Office, on Jan 16, 2021:

Dear Bigelow Families,

I am writing to let you know that I have decided to retire at the end of this school year in June 2021.  After working as an educator in middle schools for 35 years–and the last 25 years at Bigelow–it is time to pass the torch to a younger person.

I do not make this decision lightly or as a result of the pandemic.  I have been thinking about it for a while. My heart and soul are in this special place, and there is so much to be done to overcome this current crisis. I fully intend to give every ounce of my energy to make sure that we succeed in creating the best middle school experience possible for our precious students. They deserve nothing less.

I have been blessed by opportunities at Bigelow and in Newton beyond anything imaginable;  I have accomplished my dreams as a middle school educator.  When next September arrives, I hope that a new beginning can take place, and it will be time for a new leader to take Bigelow to the next level in its wonderful history.

 

It hurts to leave such an amazing school and community. When I started as a seventh grade teacher, there were no personal computers, no email, no MCAS, very few middle schools, and limited knowledge about the needs of this age group.  When I came to Bigelow, it was just emerging as a middle school after being shuttered for several years due to low enrollment. Now, after years of thoughtful work and teaching by scores of teachers, counselors, and staff, I see a shining model of the incredible impact that a middle school can have in helping young people discover their many talents and opening a wide world of possibilities to them.

The power of public education in Newton has always been the collaboration here of smart, creative, and dedicated professionals.  I am forever grateful to the staff at Bigelow, my fellow middle school principals, central office leaders, curriculum coordinators, and the PTO and parent community. The list of names is long.  No matter how big the challenge, I always knew that we could solve it together, and this year has proven this fact once again.

Most of all I will miss the generations of students who have walked the halls of Bigelow. Their eager faces–and not so eager faces some days–have energized and motivated me everyday and will continue to do so.  May the force of the Bigelow core values be with them always! .

Superintendent Fleishman will be in touch soon with information about a search process.

Thank you all. I will miss you. There’s still lots of work to be done now.  Onward and upward!

Todd

Todd Harrison, Principal