Schools
Worcester Schools Names 11 Principals For 2026-27
Worcester will begin the 2026-27 academic year with new leadership at nearly a dozen schools across the district.
WORCESTER, MA — Worcester Public Schools will begin the 2026-27 academic year with new leadership at 11 schools across the district.
The district announced Wednesday that seven schools will have new principals, three will have acting principals and one will have an interim principal. The appointments include leadership changes at North High School, South High Community School and nine elementary schools.
Belmont Street Community School
Emily Kokansky will become principal of Belmont Street Community School, where she began her education career. Kokansky spent nine years at the school as a sixth-grade English teacher and instructional coach before serving as acting principal at Francis J. McGrath Elementary School during the 2025-26 school year.
Burncoat Street Preparatory School
Christine Lloyd will serve as acting principal of Burncoat Street Preparatory School. Lloyd, most recently the school's assistant principal, joined Worcester Public Schools in 2005 and has worked as a teacher, instructional coach and district science liaison. She has also managed the district's VEX robotics program since 2011.
City View Discovery School
John Donahue will return to City View Discovery School as acting principal after three years as assistant principal at Quinsigamond Elementary School. Donahue previously worked at City View as a special education paraprofessional and teacher.
Flagg Street School
Colleen Dyer will become principal of Flagg Street School. Dyer joined the district in 2013 as an English language arts teacher at Worcester Arts Magnet School and has served as assistant principal at Thorndyke Road School since 2021.
Goddard School of Science and Technology
Kara Schichilone will serve as acting principal of Goddard School of Science and Technology, where she has spent her entire 26-year Worcester Public Schools career. She previously worked at Goddard as a teacher and instructional coach and has served as assistant principal for nine years.
Francis J. McGrath Elementary School
Erin Derr will become principal of Francis J. McGrath Elementary School after serving as principal of City View Discovery School for three years. Derr has spent her entire 25-year education career in Worcester Public Schools.
Lake View School
Angie LaRose has been elevated to principal of Lake View School after serving as acting principal during the 2025-26 school year. Her previous district roles include teacher, instructional coach and assistant principal.
Nelson Place School
Ellen Moynihan will serve as interim principal of Nelson Place School. Moynihan has worked for Worcester Public Schools since 2001 and previously spent eight years as principal of West Tatnuck Elementary School.
North High School
Edward Walker will become principal of North High School. Walker most recently served as the ninth-grade administrator and dean of students at Worcester Technical High School. His career also includes positions in school administration, counseling and higher education admissions.
South High Community School
Olga Papadopoulos has been elevated to principal of South High Community School after serving as acting principal during the 2025-26 school year. Papadopoulos is a Worcester Public Schools graduate and member of South High's Class of 2000.
Woodland Academy
Mary Sealey will become principal of Woodland Academy. Sealey has spent three decades in Worcester Public Schools, including 13 years as a principal and 12 years leading Canterbury Street School.
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