Attleboro Announces Hiring of One Principal, Departure of Another

Attleboro Public Schools officially introduced one principal Monday night while announcing the departure of another.

Superintendent Dr. Pia Durkin welcomed Scott Johnson, who will take over as the principal of Hill-Roberts Elementary on July 1. Johnson, originally from New Hampshire, comes from Henry Lord Middle School in Fall River, which is closing this year.

Durkin said incoming superintendent Kenneth Sheehan was active in Johnson's hiring process.

"I’m excited about the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead," Johnson said. "I’m ready to take those on and get started here in a very short time."

School committee members pointed to strong parent involvement at Hill Roberts as an advantage for the incoming principal.

"They’re very active - they’re very supportive," school committee chair Michael Tyler said. "I hope they support your efforts moving forward."

Johnson's appointment came on the same night the school committee discussed an opening for a new principal at Willett Elementary.

Kate Campbell officially announced this week that she would be leaving Attleboro to take a position at Jackson Elementary School in Plainville.

"After much thought and discussion with my husband, I felt this was the best opportunity for my family," Campbell wrote in a letter to parents Monday.

Campbell became the principal at Willett last year and has been with Attleboro Public Schools for 22 years.

"You leave us too soon," said school committee member David Murphy. "Thank you very much for your service. You will be missed."

Murphy went on to say that Attleboro needed to be a place where "the best and the brightest want to work."

"I think that [conversation] has to start at this table," he said.