New McGlynn Principal to Parents: Feel Free to Stop By

To Parents/Guardians of the McGlynn Middle School:

I am honored and thrilled to be the new principal of McGlynn Middle School. In the twenty-eight years that I have served early adolescent children and their families, I could not have dreamt a more perfect fit than serving not only such a wonderful school, but a fabulous city as well. The qualities that stand out to me most about Medford as a community are the strong family values and the high level of support for children. These qualities were strongly apparent to me throughout the interview process with the participation of such a wide array of vested parties. I want you to know that I applied for this position not because I needed a job or wanted to leave my prior position. It is true that my career goal has been to become the principal of a middle school, but I have been extremely selective in terms of community because I have learned through experience that the goodness of fit between an educational leader and community is extremely crucial due to the high stakes involved—your children.

There can be no truer phrase than “It takes a village” when it comes to educating the whole child in contemporary society. Our children face challenges far beyond the ones that we faced when we were finding our paths in life. The overwhelming level of competition in our world has forced children to grow up faster than ever before and it seems as though a child needs to begin writing their resume before they arrive at middle school. In addition to academic achievement and extra-curricular activities, a child’s character is under the microscope like never before. This is what makes middle education so crucial and it is why the words “we” and “together” must be maintained within the foundation of our educational community.

With so much to learn and important tasks to accomplish prior to the start of school in September, I will be at McGlynn most days this summer. Please feel free to stop by, send e-mails or phone calls with questions or to say hello. I will be away with my wife and three daughters mastering my sand castle skills towards the end of July and early August and then back full-time for the remainder of the summer. I am very excited about this opportunity and look forward to meeting you in the near future. Your participation in the education of your child(ren) is welcomed, valued and crucial to achieving our common goals—-safety, academic excellence, character development into life-long learners and good citizens who make positive contributions to our democratic society.

Wishing you peace and happiness during your summer break,

Jake Edwards
Principal
McGlynn Middle School