King Elementary School Will Have A New Principal

Dunning Elementary School Principal Kimberly Taylor has been appointed principal of King Elementary School, Superintendent Stacy Scott announced today.

Taylor announced in January she wanted the position.

“The selection of the next principal to lead the King Elementary School in its growth next year will impact the STEAM initiative at the school,” Scott said in a posting to the district’s website. “I take this decision seriously and have listened carefully to the school community’s input in making this decision.”

Taylor has been the Dunning Elementary Principal since July 1, 2009.

“I am excited about this opportunity and really look forward to the challenges ahead and what can be accomplished in the coming years at King,” Taylor said.

Scott said Taylor was selected based upon community input, the needs of the school and his vision for project-based learning.

“I am confident that Ms. Taylor’s integrated curriculum approach to education coupled with her eleven years as a building administrator will allow her to have an immediate impact on the continuation of the development of the STEAM program at King,” Scott said in a posting to the district’s website.

“I have asked Ms. Taylor to begin to serve in advisory role at King effective March 16. This time will allow Ms. Taylor to become familiar with the community needs and the planning for the curriculum and hiring for the next academic year,” said in a posting to the district’s website.

Hemenway Elementary principal Lucia Laguarda has been splitting time as both Hemenway and King Elementary principal since King opened its doors. Framingham Superintendent of Schools Stacy Scott named Laguarda as Principal of King in January 2014. Laguarda was hired as Hemenway Elementary Principal in 2010.

The Framingham Public Schools opened King Elementary in August, as the town’s ninth elementary school to deal with overcrowding. The school has a STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math) focus and has only kindergarten classes this 2014-15 school year. Children at King also learn Mandarin Chinese. The language is not taught at any of the other eight elementary schools.

Next year, King will have both kindergarten and first grade classes. The district plans to add a grade each year until the school is a full K-5 elementary school like the eight other elementary schools in the district.

Prior to her time at Dunning, Taylor was principal for two years at a K-2 elementary school in Douglas. She previously worked as an Assistant Principal for three years at the Israel Loring Elementary School in Sudbury.

Taylor also spent 12 years as an elementary teacher at Woodrow Wilson Elementary School. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in early Childhood Education from Stonehill College and earned her Masters degree from Boston College in Curriculum and Instruction.