North Adams Transcript
WILLIAMSTOWN -- Mount Greylock Regional High School’s next principal will be coming to the area all the way from Europe.
School district officials announced Thursday afternoon the appointment of John "Jack" Kurty, interim director of curriculum and instruction at the Inter national Community School in London, England, to the position. He will begin his duties as principal of Mount Greylock on July 1, according to a news release from the school district.
"Jack’s vast experience, including 10 years in school leadership positions at the American School in London, has uniquely prepared him to help lead our efforts to yield the highest standards of student achievement and instructional excellence," Rose Ellis, superintendent of Williamstown and Lanesborough Public Schools, said Thursday.
His experience in the field of education includes working in mission-driven organizations, program development, teaching and learning, she said.
Kurty, a native of Westfield, holds a doctorate in education from Harvard University’s Graduate School of Education, a master’s degree from Columbia University’s Teachers College and a bachelor’s degree in education from Colgate University. He also has a master’s degree in business administration from the Keller Graduate School of Management.
Ellis said he was one of two finalists for the principal post with the other finalist being
Kurty will replace current Principal Timothy Payne who will resign on June 30. Payne was named principal of Mount Anthony Union Middle School in Bennington, Vt., on April 23, shortly after he announced his resignation from Mount Greylock.
Kurty said in the news release that he was very pleased to have the opportunity to work with the students and staff at Mount Greylock.
"My recent conversations on campus left me impressed with the dedicated faculty, supportive community and great school spirit at Mount Greylock. I look forward to a positive and productive experience on behalf of students, and to leading the continued development of an exceptional school," he said.
Robert Ericson, chairman of the Mount Greylock School Committee, said Thursday that the committee is very excited about Kurty’s appointment.
"It’s pretty rare that we can get someone with that breadth of experience to add to our system," he said.
Even though Barnes has only been at Mount Greylock for a year, he has already made his mark, and he probably would have been picked to fill the principal post, if he had a few more years experience, Ericson said.
With Barnes as assistant principal and Kurty as principal, Ericson has high hopes for them taking on the initiative to make Mount Greylock a much better place, and bring it back to the forefront of Berkshire County schools.
"We could be in for some real exciting times here, and the students will be the ones to benefit the most," he said.
To reach Meghan Foley, email mfoley@thetranscript.com.
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