Winchester principal to retire at end of school year

By KAITLIN MULHERE Sentinel Staff

Posted on November 15, 2013 

WINCHESTER — A longtime fixture at Winchester School has announced this will be her last year working with children there.
Principal Pamela Bigelow, who started as a substitute teacher at the school in 1982, will retire at the end of this school year.

When Bigelow moved to Winchester from the Seacoast with her husband and two young children, her kids started attending Winchester School. For that reason, her post was more than a job, she said. It also was her chance to do everything she could to help the school be the best it could be for the sake of her kids.

Working with the children of Winchester for the past 30 years has been rewarding, Bigelow said. But she felt it was time for someone with fresh ideas to continue bringing the school forward.

Bigelow left the classroom in 2005 to work as assistant principal. When then-principal James M. Lewis was tapped to lead the district as superintendent in 2012, Bigelow moved up to the principal’s office.

Looking back, her journey to the principal’s desk is surprising, since she never aimed to be there, she said.

Before becoming an administrator, Bigelow taught kindergarten, 1st grade, 2nd grade and 4th grade. She spent 15 years as the music teacher for students in kindergarten through 6th grade, and she directed the elementary school band and chorus. She also served as the school’s community partnership director.

The district is creating a hiring committee of staff, board members and parents, and hopes to have a principal in place by the spring, Lewis said.

“It’s a big decision,” he said. “We want this person to stay here for a long time.”

Kaitlin Mulhere can be reached at 352-1234, extension 1439, or kmulhere@keenesentinel.com. Follow her on Twitter @KMulhereKS.