Matthew Peel named principal at Plainfield High School - why was he selected?
Plainfield School Superintendent Paul Brenton announced the appointment of Matthew Peel as the new Principal of Plainfield High School, effective July 1, 2023.
Peel, who was most recently with the LEARN Magnet Schools, has served as Associate Principal in Griswold and Principal in Colchester. He previously taught high school mathematics.
In his press release announcing Peel's appointment, Brenton wrote, "Mr. Peel has demonstrated his passion for fostering a positive learning environment and supporting the diverse needs of students. He is known for his strong collaborative approach, working closely with teachers, staff, parents, and the community to create a shared vision of excellence in education.
"Mr. Peel's leadership style centers on fostering a culture of inclusivity, where all students feel supported, valued, and empowered to reach their full potential. His ability to build meaningful relationships and inspire a sense of belonging will undoubtedly make a lasting impact on the Plainfield High School community."
Welcoming comments
Board of Education Chairwoman Christi Haskell said, “The Plainfield Board of education is glad to welcome Mr. Peel to our community. I wish to thank all of the members of our hiring committee, as well as all of the parents, students and staff who assisted with this process. Ensuring that our High School has a strong leader is important to our board, and we look forward to seeing all he will do for our High School Community.”
Assistant Superintendent Mr. Scott Sugarman said of Mr. Peel and the hiring process, “We had a robust applicant pool and each candidate went through three interview rounds, completed performance tasks and had interactions with students, staff, parents and administration throughout the process. Mr. Peel consistently connected with each stakeholder group with clarity of purpose, excitement for the opportunity, connection to students and knowledge in the field.”
The hiring process for the Plainfield High School Principal involved students, parents, and faculty. In total, over thirty members of the Plainfield High School community interviewed candidates and endorsed Mr. Peel to become the next leader of the school.
How much did they make? Plainfield school district's top earners were administrators.
Meeting the school community
Peel drafted a letter to the Plainfield High School community, in which he said that he was a people-first leader, and added that he believed school needed to be a place where students and staff can come and feel safe, valued, and welcomed, regardless of their backgrounds or differences.
Peel has scheduled meet and greet sessions for the school community. Faculty and staff are invited on Friday, July 7, from 9 - 10 a.m.; parent and community members are invited on Monday, July 10, from 3 -4 p.m. and students are invited on Tuesday, July 11, from 3 - 4 p.m. All sessions will take place in the school library.
"I am excited to join Plainfield High School and the entire Plainfield school community.” Peel wrote. “What I learned through the extensive and thorough hiring process is that all members of the Plainfield community expect a principal that will work hard for every student, every educator, and every family in Plainfield and that is what I will do. I look forward to meeting the students of PHS and building strong working relationships with each staff member to help Plainfield High continue to grow into a new future filled with innovation, creativity, and new challenges."
This article originally appeared on The Bulletin: Plainfield High School new principal Matthew Peel hired
