Principal Of Brookline School Resigns

BROOKLINE, MA — The principal of the Runkle School has resigned two months after she took an unexpected leave of absence, according to the district.

"I am grateful to [Genteen] Jean-Michel for her years of service to Brookline and the Runkle community. She is a talented, experienced, and wise leader whose first priority is always the students," Interim Superintendent Ben Lummis said in a letter home to the families of students.

Lummis did not say what Jean-Michel will be doing next.

Donna Finnegan who stepped in as the school’s acting principal since March 5, will stay on as Runkle School’s interim principal for the 2020-2021 school year, said Lummis.

"Since being appointed acting principal, Mrs. Finnegan has done an impressive job connecting with the community, supporting staff, and leading the community through the extended school closure. Her commitment to the Runkle School community is unparalleled, and I am grateful to her for accepting this appointment," said Lummis.

Retired educator and principal Dr. Eileen Woods will continue as interim vice principal through the end of the current school year. The district will begin a search process for the selection of an interim vice principal to serve for the 2020-2021 school year.

Jean-Michel took over as principal of the Runkle School off of Dean Road at the end of the 2017 school year. She replaced interim principal Jim Stoddard who took over when Vanessa Beauchaine left in 2015.

"As has been the case throughout this period of leadership transition, our priority has been and remains the students, staff, and community at Runkle," said Lummis in the letter.

According to a school survey the school year 2016-17 some 73 percent of staff indicated they viewed the school as having a positive school climate, up 3 percent from the year before. The following school year 2017-18 that sentiment went down to 58 percent and went down to 45 percent in the 2018-19 school year.

Meanwhile, some 66 percent of Runkle families who took the survey indicated that they felt the school climate was positive last school year up one percent from the 2017-18 school year, which was down 7 percent from the year before.

Positive sentiment toward school leadership went from 62 percent in 2016-17 school year to 22 percent in the 2018-19 school year. And positive sentiment regarding staff-leadership relations went from 71 percent to 36 percent during that same time.

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Brookline School Principal Takes Sudden Leave Of Absence

Patch reporter Jenna Fisher can be reached at Jenna.Fisher@patch.com or by calling 617-942-0474. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram (@ReporterJenna).