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SPENCER/EAST BROOKFIELD – Nate Malone, principal at David Prouty High School, addressed the Spencer-East Brookfield School Committee on December 10, following his decision to retire at semester’s end.
Malone said the announcement of his mid-year departure has been “quite shocking to most,” but assured the district community that his leaving is not for health or emergency reasons.
A principal for the past 8 ½ years, Malone said he taught for a decade before that and has been missing the classroom and working with students for a long time. He put those thoughts “on hold” because of the high school building project and wanting to see it realized.
Malone described how elated he felt when the ballots were counted and both Spencer and East Brookfield voted in support of the building project.
“It could be the happiest moment of my life,” Malone said.
Although he said working as a principal has been “incredibly rewarding and professionally satisfying,” his desire to return to teaching prevailed.
Malone said a job opened in the district where he formerly taught and where he will return.
Although he said he felt guilty leaving mid-year, Malone expressed confidence that Assistant Principal Sara Kinnas is “highly capable of guiding the school forward seamlessly,” as interim principal.
Malone also said he is a phone call away to help with the transition and he is not going to “walk away and disappear.”
At the start of the meeting, student representative Aniya Alfpon referred to the principal’s departure, jokingly calling him “my best friend.” Alfpon thanked the principal for all he has done for David Prouty High, adding that he greatly cares for the entire school community.
“He’s been a constant, reliable leader and example to all of us,” she said.
School Committee members also spoke about Malone, with Chair Jason Monette thanking him for “stepping up to the plate,” on behalf of the building project.
Calling him a “true teacher at heart,” Monette said, “In the community, I never heard a bad word said about Mr. Malone as principal.”
School Committee member Heather Messier said that she and Malone had “great conversations over the years,” and his departure is a huge loss for the district. Describing him as “well-respected and liked,” Messier added it takes great strength to go back to the classroom.
