A Change in Principals

Sullivan leaves top job at Saugus-Middle High School today; Scuzzarella promoted as his replacement

By Mark E. Vogler

Saugus Public Schools will say goodbye today to longtime town educator Brendon Sullivan, who is stepping down from the principal’s job at Saugus Middle-High School to accept an assistant principal’s position at Greater Lawrence Technical School. Sullivan, 45, will end a 23-year career in the Saugus School Department – the last three-plus years as the top administrator overseeing the Middle-High School Complex. School officials have called Sullivan an asset to the school district and say that his ongoing contributions to the betterment of the local education system will be greatly missed.

But Schools Superintendent Michael Hashem and other school officials have high expectations for the educator who will replace him: Dr. Carla Scuzzarella, a Saugus native who has spent more than three decades in the education profession. “She brings over 20 years of building based leadership experience and has already been working as the Associate Principal of the high school since July 1st,” Hashem told The Saugus Advocate.

“She is embracing this new challenge and she is working on transitioning to the role of principal. We are excited about this change and we will work as a community to continue to move in a positive direction for our students,” he said.

School Committee Chair Vincent Serino predicted Scuzzarella would be “a great principal” for the Middle-High School and help lead the school toward scholastic success. “Carla Scuzzarella is a great addition to our district,” Serino said.

“She has been successful in every step of her professional career and I am sure this challenge will be no different. Carla and her family are a big part of the Saugus community and we are looking forward to her leadership and the knowledge she brings with her,” he said.

“A hard decision to make”

Sullivan has strong emotional and family ties to Saugus. He grew up here. His parents and most of his family still live in town.

Saugus Public Schools was where his teaching career began. “I started in the fall of 2001 – just a 22-year-old teacher right out of college, I started just a few days before school started as a High School English teacher. I was on the job a week or two before 9-11 [The Sept. 11 terrorist attacks] happened,” Sullivan recalled in an interview this week.

“I have spent more than half my life employed by Saugus Public Schools and I’m 45 now. I’m at the point in my career where I wanted to try something different. It was a hard decision to make,” he said.

Back in early summer, Sullivan saw the posting for the position of Assistant Principal for Humanities at Greater Lawrence Technical School. “It was an area I was interested in and one I had experience in. And I started thinking about my professional growth and family responsibilities,” Sullivan said.

“I decided it was the right opportunity at the right time,” he said.

There were also family considerations. Sullivan lives with his wife Bethany and their four sons in Amesbury, which is about a 32-mile commuting distance to Saugus. The distance between Amesbury and Lawrence is about half the mileage. He would also get to spend more time with his growing sons – two who are in High School (a sophomore who is 15 and a freshman who is 14), another in the fifth grade who is 10 and a son who turns three in a couple of weeks.

“It’s going to be a pretty significant commuting distance,” Sullivan said.

“I’ll have a little bit more time with my family and be able to go to my older kids’ high school events,” he said.

A smooth transition

Weighing in on Sullivan’s decision is the state of Saugus Middle-High School. “As I look at the team in place at Saugus Middle-High School, they’re in a good place,” Sullivan said.

“I find Dr. Scuzzarella to be great, just in the few months I worked with her. And we have a new athletic director in place. I knew Matt [Serino] as a student here when I was a teacher. He’s a good guy and will be doing good things,” Sullivan said.

He also praised other individual members of the Leadership Team and Middle-High School Complex. Sullivan lauded the work of David Micu, the Middle School Associate Principal; Kimberly Politano Burns, the High School Assistant Principal; Michelle Dwyer, the Middle School Assistant Principal of Culture and Climate; and Leanne Mottola, the Director of Guidance. “They’re doing great things at the Middle School. I feel good about the team and I’ll miss working with the team,” he said.

Several School Committee members said they are confident that Scuzzarella will fill the void left by Sullivan once she becomes familiar with the Middle-High School Complex. “Dr. Scuzzarella will have a tall task at hand, considering she will be starting her tenure as principal minus one administrator,” School Committee Member Whittredge said.

“I have no doubt that she will pave her own way as principal in ways we have not seen in a while. Although it’s tough to turn the page, I’m excited to see what the next few years bring for the kids and families of Saugus,” he said.

School Committee Member Ryan Fisher noted Scuzzarella’s “deep roots in Saugus” as a lifelong resident who is a Saugus High School graduate. “She serves and loves this community already in countless ways, and we’re grateful to her for stepping up for our families and staff at the complex,” Fisher said.

“Everyone there has been very committed to progress and improvements, and Carla brings a wealth of experience and grit to the job. We’ve only had the opportunity to work together briefly here in Saugus but I’ve found her to be very direct and substantive,” Fisher said. “She doesn’t sugarcoat. She’ll tell you what’s working, what’s good, what’s not so good, and how she thinks we fix it. I’m encouraged and look forward to her leadership!”

The Brendon Sullivan legacy

Sullivan received his bachelor’s degree in English from Merrimack College in 2001. He received a double Master’s degree from Salem State: in English and in Teaching. He also has a certificate of advanced graduate study in administration from American International College.

Once hired by Saugus Public Schools in the fall of 2001, Sullivan spent his first 12 years as an English teacher at Saugus High. In July of 2013, he was appointed Humanities Director for grades 6 to 12 for the school district. For the 2013-14 school year, he served as full-time Humanities Director, working between the Middle School and the High School.

In July of 2014, he wound up with the position of assistant principal and humanities director. After February vacation that year, he was appointed acting principal at the High School through June 30. He served three years as the district’s executive director of curriculum, instruction & accountability.

He has won high praise from members of the School Committee, who credit his work ethic and leadership to scholastic success in the Middle-High School Complex. Here’s what several school officials had to say about his contributions to Saugus Public Schools:

  School Committee Member Ryan Fisher: “Brendon Sullivan has given two decades to Saugus Public Schools, from the classroom to building leadership, to district administration and to ultimately leading the Middle High School. The five years I’ve worked with him coincided with pandemic learning, the restructuring of the entire school system and changes through three superintendencies. Brendon was a steady presence, always available, and extremely down to earth. I’m a loquacious guy, but when you got him fired up about his students or educational minutiae he could talk me under the table. He’s a true teacher, and I wish him and his family nothing but the best and great success in his next challenge.”

School Committee Chair Vincent Serino: “Brendon has been a great asset to Saugus throughout his career in SPS. He and his family are part of the fabric that makes Saugus a great community. Brendon will be missed. He is a hard worker and has always maintained great professionalism throughout the district. He has filled many seats in the district and has grown as we grew. We wish him the best on his next steps in his professional journey.”

  School Committee Member Thomas Whittredge: “I want to wish Mr. Sullivan the best of luck with his new position. Throughout his long career here in Saugus, Mr. Sullivan has been extremely well liked and has been an asset to the school department. On a personal note, Mr. Sullivan is one of the best guys you’re going to meet. He’s been nothing but a gentleman throughout his career and in every situation. He’s also a great family man and that goes a long way with me.

“I’m sure he will make a huge impact in his new district. I wish him nothing but the best.”

  Saugus Schools Superintendent Michael Hashem: “First, I want to personally thank Brendon Sullivan for serving our district for over two decades. Brendon has been a teacher, coach, advisor, humanities director, assistant principal, Executive Director of Curriculum, Instruction and Accountability, and principal of the Saugus Middle High School Complex. Brendon is moving on to a new role at a new district and his last day here in Saugus is Friday, September 13th. We wish Brendon well in his new position.”

Final reflections

As he looks back on his career as a Saugus educator, Sullivan said, it’s difficult to cite any significant accomplishments that stand out above others. “I guess the best part – you get to play some small role in a young person’s life – and hopefully, it’s a positive role,” Sullivan said.

“When you run into a former student that you meet as an adult and they remember you in a good way, that’s one thing I will miss about my time here. I’ve been here long enough that I have students who are children of former students that I’ve had,” he said.