Interim principal named as permanent leader at Westfield Technical Academy
- Published: Apr. 11, 2024, 2:46 a.m.<![if !vml]>
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Bruce Hastings has accepted the position of principal of the Westfield Technical Academy after serving as interim for 8 months. Westfield News
By Amy Porter | The Westfield News | aporter@thereminder.com
WESTFIELD — Superintendent Stefan Czaporowski announced to staff this week that Bruce Hastings, who has been serving as interim principal at Westfield Technical Academy for the last eight months, has been selected as principal of the school.
“I am pleased to announce that Bruce Hastings has been offered and accepted the role of principal of WTA,” Czaporowski wrote. “A significant majority of respondents supported his candidacy after the visits last week. There were many positive comments about Mr. Hastings, citing his focus on relationships with all stakeholders; his experience as an educator and administrator in multiple settings; and his ability to improve the climate of the school.”
He added that one staff member had written, “I believe Bruce Hastings is the perfect candidate for the principal position at WTA.”
Prior to becoming interim principal at the school, Hastings served as an assistant principal at WTA, as well as at schools in South Hadley and in Belchertown. Before that, he was a physical education and health teacher at Westfield Middle School. He has a bachelor’s degree in physical education from Springfield College and a master’s degree from American International College.
Hastings said he was “very happy” to take on the role as principal, even though it was not a goal he had originally sought, having observed the job and what it entails as an assistant principal.
“This is a different place. This is a special place,” he said.
Hastings said his experience over the last eight months was a good one. “We have such a good front office group,” he said, citing administrators, front office staff and shop teachers who have been at the school for a long time. “I don’t want to say it runs itself; people are just good at what they do.
“We’ve tried to be really positive this year. My motto for the staff was to step out of your comfort zone – show the kids a different side of you and try to have some fun. I stepped out of my comfort zone taking this job,” he said.
In the fall, the school brought in a professional motivational speaker, who Hastings said delivered a great message about dreams and goals. Hastings listed some of the firsts at the school this year, which included having enough band students to run WTA’s own band concert for the first time. He talked about English teacher Jeanine DeLand forming a team to compete on “As Schools Match Wits.” He said even though the team was bumped from the schedule because another school canceled, he is hoping it will continue the effort next year.
“My hope is to keep the momentum going. We get a lot of applications; unfortunately, we can’t take them all — we don’t have the space,” Hastings said, adding that despite the age and the limitations of the building itself, “People really, really want to come here.”
Czaporowski thanked staff members for their participation in the search process for the next principal of WTA. “Your survey responses in January and written feedback on the finalist visits last week were crucial parts of the search process,” he said. “I would also like to thank members of the interview committee, who selected and met with semi-finalists and recommended the two finalists who visited WTA last week.”
The other finalist for the position was Vera Denyko, an assistant principal at Roger Putnam Vocational Technical Academy in Springfield. Westfield Human Resources Director Michael Morris said Hastings’ official transition to the role of principal will be on July 1.
Morris commented on the positive response from staff about Hastings. “The feedback was strong that his leadership has positively impacted the culture and climate of the school, and staff are excited to see that continue into the future,” he said.
David J. Ferreira
MAVA Communications Coordinator
DavidFerreira
