Worcester Public Schools is excited to introduce the leaders stepping into the role of school principal and acting principal across our district for the upcoming 2026-27 school year!
Please find more information about the newest principals and acting principals below - and join us in giving them a warm welcome into their new school communities!
Belmont Street Community School: Principal Emily Kokansky
Emily Kokansky is thrilled to return to Belmont Street Community School to become its new Principal for the 2026-27 school year, returning to the very place where her career in education began. Ms. Kokansky spent nine years at Belmont Street serving as a Grade 6 English teacher and an Instructional Coach. In 2025-26, Ms. Kokansky served as Acting Principal at Francis J. McGrath Elementary School, where she deepened her commitment to supporting the school community. Ms. Kokansky says the most rewarding part of education is building lifelong connections with students and families, and she especially treasures running into former students who remember the impact she made on them. Ms. Kokansky is eager to partner with staff, students and families to build upon the strong foundation already in place at Belmont Street Community School.
Burncoat Street Preparatory School: Acting Principal Christine Lloyd
Christine Lloyd will serve as the Acting Principal at Burncoat Street Preparatory School for the upcoming school year. Ms. Lloyd began her career with the Worcester Public Schools in 2005 as a science teacher at Dr. Arthur F. Sullivan Middle School after relocating from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, where she participated in Teach For America. Over her 21-year career in education, Ms. Lloyd has taught Biology at Worcester Technical High School and fifth-grade Math and Science at Tatnuck Magnet Elementary School. Her previous leadership roles include serving as a Focused Instructional Coach at Worcester Technical High School and as the district-wide Science Liaison. Additionally, she has managed the Worcester Public Schools VEX robotics program since 2011. A familiar face in the school community, Ms. Lloyd most recently served as the Assistant Principal at Burncoat Street Preparatory School.
City View Discovery School: Acting Principal John Donahue
John Donahue will be returning to City View Discovery School to become the Acting Principal for the 2026-27 school year. Mr. Donahue has been Assistant Principal at Quinsigamond Elementary School for the past three years. Prior to Quinsigamond, Donahue taught for over nine years as a special education teacher in the STEP programs at City View, and then Quinsigamond. He is excited to return to his roots at City View where he started his career as a special education paraprofessional. As a lifelong resident of Worcester, Mr. Donahue seeks to serve his community as an educational leader. Mr. Donahue is a proud father of two girls: a third grader in the Worcester Public Schools and one soon to be WPS student.
Flagg Street School: Principal Colleen Dyer
Colleen Dyer will serve as the new Principal of Flagg Street School, bringing over 20 years of educational experience to the role. Ms. Dyer began her career in private school education before later joining the Worcester Public Schools in 2013 as a Grade 6 English Language Arts teacher at Worcester Arts Magnet School. In 2018, Colleen became the district-wide English Language Arts Liaison, supporting K–12 literacy instruction and curriculum implementation. Since 2021, Ms. Dyer has served as the Assistant Principal at Thorndyke Road School, where she managed initiatives centered on student achievement, school culture, family engagement, and social-emotional learning.
Goddard School of Science & Technology: Acting Principal Kara Schichilone
Kara Schichilone will serve as the Acting Principal at the Goddard School of Science and Technology during the upcoming school year, marking her 26th year with the Worcester Public Schools at this school community. Schichilone began her career at Goddard as a fifth and sixth grade teacher for eight years, before transitioning into the role of Focused Instructional Coach for eight years. Ms. Schichilone has served as the school’s Assistant Principal for the last nine years. Throughout her tenure in the Main South neighborhood, she has worked across multiple generations of Goddard families. Outside of school, Schichilone spends time with her family, and her perspectives as a parent and grandparent inform her focus on maintaining a safe and supportive learning environment. She will partner with Goddard's students, staff, and families to continue the development of the school community.
Francis J. McGrath Elementary School: Principal Erin Derr
Erin Derr has been named the Principal of Francis J. McGrath Elementary School for the upcoming school year. Ms. Derr has dedicated her entire 25-year educational career to the Worcester Public Schools, most recently serving as Principal of City View Discovery School. After beginning her career as a teacher at Jacob Hiatt Magnet School and Heard Street Discovery Academy, Erin transitioned into leadership at City View, where she served as Assistant Principal for four years before taking the helm as Principal over the past three years. Ms. Derr is deeply committed to building strong relationships with students, staff, and families to create a safe, welcoming, and celebratory environment for her school community. As a lifelong resident of Worcester, Erin is a proud mother of three daughters who are all students of the Worcester Public Schools, including a recent 2024 Worcester Technical High School graduate, a rising high school senior, and an incoming freshman at Doherty Memorial High School.
Lake View School: Principal Angie LaRose
Angie LaRose will be elevated to Principal of Lake View School for the upcoming school year, after serving the school in an acting role for the 2025-26 term. Ms. LaRose began her career in the Worcester Public Schools as a SAIL teacher at Gates Lane School of International Studies before serving as an inclusion teacher at both Thorndyke Road School and Roosevelt Elementary School. Her passion for instructional excellence led her to roles as a school-based instructional coach at Quinsigamond Elementary School and Chandler Elementary Community School, and later as both a district-wide math and special education coach. LaRose transitioned into school administration when she joined Lake View School as Assistant Principal, before being named Acting Principal last school year. LaRose is thrilled to bring her deep district-wide experience and lifelong love for teaching into her role as Principal, continuing to champion the success of Lake View's students, staff, and families.
Nelson Place School: Interim Principal Ellen Moynihan
Ellen Moynihan will serve as the Interim Principal at Nelson Place School, bringing nearly four decades of dedicated educational experience to the role. A member of the Worcester Public Schools community since 2001, Ms. Moynihan has served the district as a teacher, lead mathematics support specialist, instructional coach, and principal, including eight years leading West Tatnuck Elementary School. Throughout her career, she has focused on strengthening standard-based instruction, developing educators, and building strong collaborative learning communities. A 30-year Worcester resident, Moynihan’s commitment to the district is both professional and personal, having raised two children who attended Worcester Public Schools from kindergarten through high school. She remains deeply dedicated to supporting educators, enhancing curriculum implementation, and driving academic achievement for all students.
North High School: Principal Edward Walker
Edward Walker brings over two decades of dedicated educational experience to North High School as the school’s new principal, most recently serving as the Grade 9 Administrator and Dean of Students at Worcester Technical High School. Mr. Walker’s career spans K-12 administration, counseling, and higher education admissions, including roles as Dean of Students at Thurston Middle School in Westwood, Massachusetts and Guidance Counselor at Cambridge Rindge and Latin School in Cambridge, Massachusetts. A long-time instructor, Walker is deeply committed to equity, instructional excellence, and building culturally responsive school cultures where both students and educators thrive. He is excited to continue driving academic and social-emotional success for the students, staff, and families in the North High community.
South High Community School: Principal Olga Papadopoulos
Olga Papadopoulos will be elevated to Principal of South High Community School for the upcoming school year, after serving the school in an acting role for the 2025-26 school year. Principal Papadopoulos’ connection to the school runs deep as a proud graduate of Worcester Public Schools and a member of the South High Class of 2000. Over her twenty-year career dedicated to the district, she has found her greatest joy in connecting with students and fostering a school family where every child feels significant and valued. Papadopoulos is thrilled to continue serving her alma mater and supporting the community that shaped her.
Woodland Academy: Principal Mary Sealey
Mary Sealey has been appointed as the Principal of Woodland Academy for the 2026-27 school year. Ms. Sealey has served as a Principal in the Worcester Public Schools for 13 years, including 12 years at Canterbury Street School. Over her three-decade career within the district, she has held various leadership roles, including Assistant Principal and Curriculum Specialist, alongside experience managing special education programs such as STEP and Transitional Life Skills. Known for her track record of improving student achievement, she returns to leadership in the Main South neighborhood focused on enhancing student outcomes and collaborating closely with the shared Claremont Academy campus community.