New Sargent School Principal Appointed

is beginning a new era with new leadership. Former Tewksbury Principal Dr. Edward Foster has been appointed principal of Sargent School, effective July 1.

Foster will replace Principal Varsha Desai, citing the long commute from her home in Grafton and the desire to be closer to her family.

Foster was selected to replace her after an extensive recruitment effort by the Sargent Elementary School Principal Search Committee, consisting of teachers, school personnel and district administration.

"The Committee spent many hours interviewing, conducting site visits and communicating with staff and parents," Superintendent Chris Hottel said in a statement announcing the appointment. "As Superintendent, I want to commend and thank the committee for its tireless work in the search process.

Foster comes to North Andover after serving for three years as principal of Louise Davy Trahan Elementary School in Tewksbury during a tumultuous time in that district's history when Tewksbury's elementary schools were being reconfigured and Trahan transitioned from a K-4 format to grades 3 and 4.

"This transition obviously created a real challenge for teachers and students moving in and out from different schools and adjusting to a new environment," Hottel said. "Dr. Foster won the hearts and minds of his faculty, the students, the parents, district administrators and the School Committee in making that transition seamless."

Adding to that challenge, Foster was principal during a storm of district contract disputes and chaos that resulted in all staff being fired and rehired at lower pay rates. North Andover officials were impressed by what they called his ability to lead staff members through this troubled period and focus on professional development for teachers.

Before his term in Tewksbury, Foster was an assistant principal in Salem. He received his Ph.D in administration, training and policy studies from Boston University.

Founded in 1995, Sargent Elementary School serves about 650 students from kindergarten through fifth grade. The school is after Annie Laura Sargent -- a local legend in the town's educational system who served as a teacher, principal and School Committee member, and was the first woman ever elected to public office in North Andover in the 1930s.