The search for the next Watertown Middle School principal has reached the finalist stage. This week, the four finalists will be visiting the middle school and have a meet and greet with parents and families. Two are currently principals and two are assistant principals.
The following information was provided by the Watertown Public Schools:
We are excited to welcome four outstanding finalists to Watertown Middle School next week as part of our search for our next principal. Each candidate brings a wealth of experience and a deep commitment to education. Below is the schedule for the finalist visits and a brief introduction to each finalist, along with their scheduled visit date.
Monday, February 3 – Dr. Jamin Bercaw
Dr. Jamin Bercaw has been the Assistant Principal at Oak Hill Middle School in Newton since 2014. Before stepping into administration, he spent nine years teaching secondary social studies.
In his cover letter, Dr. Bercaw emphasizes the importance of trust and connection in school leadership, stating: “Students, staff, parents, and administrators must all be reassured, through words and through actions, that their school principals want what is best for our students. These community members need a leader in whom they can place their trust. I am proud of my ability to connect with students from a variety of backgrounds and have worked with diverse staff and student populations for many years, both in Newton and in my prior teaching roles in Washington, D.C., and Tennessee.”
Tuesday, February 4 – Mr. Darrell Braggs
Mr. Darrell Braggs currently serves as Principal of Waltham High School, a role he has held since 2022. Prior to that, he was an Assistant Principal in Waltham for five years and spent 11 years as a social studies teacher in Framingham.
In his application, Mr. Braggs shared his enthusiasm for working with middle school students, stating: “I’m excited to continue my education journey at the middle school level because I want to get back to my roots of working more directly with students and teachers. I think Watertown Middle School’s size and structure will allow me to directly interact with students daily while also providing opportunities to work closely with teachers and support them in their work with our students.”
Wednesday, February 5 – Mr. Jeff Gaglione
Mr. Jeff Gaglione has been the Principal of Quinn Middle School in Hudson since 2019. Before that, he served as the Dean of Curriculum at Cambridge Rindge and Latin School for 10 years and spent 12 years teaching mathematics at the secondary level.
Mr. Gaglione expressed his deep commitment to school leadership in his application, stating:
“If given the opportunity, I will work tirelessly for the students, staff, and families at Watertown Middle School. I am confident that I can build on the strengths that Watertown Middle School and Watertown Public Schools already have, while simultaneously working to address areas for growth.”
Thursday, February 6 – Ms. Jennifer Sarmiento
Ms. Jennifer Sarmiento currently serves as the Assistant Principal at Watertown Middle School. Before moving into administration, she taught English at Cambridge Rindge and Latin School for 11 years.
Reflecting on her leadership journey in her cover letter, Ms. Sarmiento shared: “My time as a middle school assistant principal has been rewarding, challenging, and inspiring. My leadership work with the students and staff at Watertown Middle School has taught me to always strive to nurture a positive school culture—by listening, problem-solving, and celebrating with the members of our community.”
We are excited for the Watertown Middle School community to meet these outstanding candidates and take part in this important process. All meetings will take place in the middle school library. Anyone who participates in the visits will be provided an opportunity to give me feedback via a google form.
Best,
Dede Galdston, Superintendent of Schools
WMS Finalist Visit Schedule-all meetings will be held in the WMS Library
12:00 pm – 12:45 pm Lunch with Students & Tour of WMS 12:00-12:20 Lunch 12:20-12:45- Tour 12:45 pm – 1:15 pm Meet with members of the WMS PTO, Diversity Council, SEPAC, School Site Council 1:15 pm – 1:45 pm Meet with Principals, Directors, and Coordinators 1:45-pm – 2:15 pm Meet with Assistant Principal, Administrative Assistants, Instructional Support Staff (IAs, Tech Support, etc.), Cafeteria Staff, and Custodians 2:15 pm – 2:30 pm Break 2:30 pm – 3:00 pm Meet with Faculty 3:00 pm – 3:30 pm Meet with Parents/Guardians & Community Members 3:30 pm – 4:30 pm Public Interview with the Superintendent 7:00 pm – 7:30 pm Parent/caregiver/Community Member Zoom Meet and Greet