March 16, 2023
Dear Shrewsbury Families, Colleagues, & Community Members,
I want to share the news that last evening, on my recommendation, the School Committee unanimously voted to appoint Mr. Christian Girardi as the next Assistant Superintendent for Finance and Operations for our school district, effective July 1.
Mr. Girardi has served as the principal of Beal School since 2013. In addition to his very successful work as a school leader, he played an instrumental role in the process of the approval, design, and construction of the new Beal School building. After a very thorough vetting process, including multiple interviews with various school and municipal staff and the School Committee, I recommended that Mr. Girardi be promoted to this key district-level leadership role. As I stated in my recommendation memo to the School Committee, having worked with Mr. Girardi over the decade since I appointed him as the principal of Beal, I have come to greatly admire his ability to achieve difficult goals, both as an individual leader and as an excellent team player who brings out the best in his colleagues. Like others, I find his character and trustworthiness to be beyond reproach. I am confident that Mr. Girardi’s capacity, work ethic, and deep commitment to our school district and the Shrewsbury community will enable his success in his new position.
Our current Assistant Superintendent for Finance and Operations, Mr. Patrick Collins, will play a key part in Mr. Girardi's transition. Mr. Collins will leave very large shoes to fill, and I believe Mr. Girardi will prove to be a worthy successor.
I know this is bittersweet news for the Beal School community, as it is very clear that they hold Mr. Girardi in the highest esteem as their principal. We will begin the search for the leader who will become the Beal principal for next school year as soon as possible, as I am committed to finding the best possible leader who will support our Beal students, families, and staff in continuing the development of the outstanding positive learning community that has been created at Beal.
Please join me in congratulating Mr. Girardi and wishing him the very best in his new role.
Respectfully,
Joe Sawyer
Superintendent of Schools