As the end of John Perella’s first year as Gloucester High School principal comes to a close, he has plans to continue ensuring the school is a safe space for students to learn and to overhaul what senior year looks like.
Perella gave a presentation to the School Committee about what he has learned and how he plans on improving the school over time. He took after former Principal James Cook stepped down and returned to the classroom.
When Perella took the position after leaving Revere High School where he served as principal, he created an entry plan to help guide him through his first year. The plan included high-level focus areas such as understanding the Gloucester community and its history as well as engaging and becoming a part of the school community.
“What I wanted to do during the school year was introduce myself and be very clear about who I am, my experiences and my hopes,” Perella told the committee. “But probably more important to me was listening, understanding and researching.”
To put these ideas into practice, Perella said, he spent about 70% of his time answering emails or working on his computer — not in his office, but in the hallways.
“It gives me an opportunity to see the students every day, throughout the whole day and listen to them and build trust,” he said.
Perella also held monthly school hall meetings where he gave updates on the school and the community and fielded questions.
One of the more significant areas of change Perella presented to the committee had to do with his plans to restructure the senior year academic experience by utilizing already established community connections while creating new ones.
“We want students to get out, use their hands and apply their learning, we know that’s how learning happens,” he said.
Some examples of partnerships Perella include finding ways to get students involved in the University of Massachusetts Amherst Marine Station at Hodgkin’s Cove and working with the Gloucester Biotechnology Academy to create a dual-enrollment program.
“My hope is over the next couple years to really grow these ideas out,” he said. “I believe there’s a cycle here where we invest in our students and those students should invest back into the community.”
Some other specific focus areas Perella worked toward included nurturing belonging and connection to ensure all students are coming into a welcoming school, which will help them learn to the best of their abilities, and ensuring graduation is a memorable experience for all students and families.
“This whole year has been about listening and trying to understand what we can do and where we should go, then creating some strategic planning along with these big ideas,” he said.
Moving forward Perella said he wants to continue fostering student growth through strong community partnerships and making sure students have a voice in the school.
During the next school year, Perella said he is changing the role of student-elected officials to make sure they truly are representatives of the student body.
“We would meet regularly,” he said, “share concerns and the students would be part of thinking of solutions to problems and they would really be a part of my leadership team.”
Staff Writer Bobby Grady may be contacted at 978-675-2714 or bgrady@gloucestertimes.com.