Lucia Godfrey Retiring As Principal of Freeman-Centennial

Lucia Godfrey is planning to retire April 2 as principal of Freeman-Cen­tennial School.

Lucia Godfrey announced this week she is planning to retire April 2. Photo by Matt McDonald “The children and the Town of Nor­folk have been extremely fortunate to have had such an outstanding and car­ing

administrator as Lucia. Not only has she served her district with all of her professional and educational talents, but more importantly, she has served with her heart. She will be missed but her legacy will last a long time,” Norfolk Superintendent Don LeClerc wrote in an email message to The Norfolk Boo­merang. LeClerc said he plans within a few weeks to name an interim principal for April, May, and June. Freeman-Centennial School on Boardman Street serves grades 3 through 6. Godfrey said in an email message to parents that she has “mixed emotions” about retiring but that her family needs her starting in April. “For the past 31 years, I have had the opportunity to do what I love most: work with and for children. Being an educator is my passion and it has given me much happiness and fulfillment to know that I have helped children grow academically and socially,” Godfrey said in the message. Godfrey started as a teacher in Norfolk’s elementary school system in 1984. She served as assistant principal of H. Olive Day School (which serves kindergarten through second grade) before becoming principal of Freeman-Centennial School in 2004. She is in her sixth year there.

As principal, Godfrey oversaw im­plementation of new curriculums in reading and writing, and student test scores increased dramatically dur­ing her tenure. A couple of years ago students’ scores on the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System test rose from the 25th percentile to the 15th. She experienced one rocky period during the winter of 2006, when her clashes with popular third grade teacher Eric Matez over his teaching style led the superintendent of the time, Chris Augusta-Scott, to firehim for insubordination. Some parents protested and called for the firing of Augusta-Scott and Godfrey, but in time the conflictreceded.

Late this week, Ellen Hor­ton, president of the Norfolk Teachers Association, the union that represents elemen­tary school teachers in Nor­folk, praised Godfrey’s work in education. “Mrs. Godfrey has been a supportive and innovative ad­ministrator as well as an ex­cellent teacher in the Norfolk Public Schools for the past 31 years. Her positive influence is felt in all aspects of our day and throughout our district. She will be missed by all as she enters this next well deserved phase of her life,” Horton wrote in an email message.

Godfrey’s last day as prin­cipal is Friday, April 2.

Editor’s Note: Lucia Godfrey, principal of Freeman-Centen­nial School, sent a message about her forthcoming retire­ment to Norfolk parents on Friday, February 5 via Con­nectEd, the school district’s email communication system.

Dear Parents and Guardians,

It is with mixed emotions that I inform you that I will be retiring as of April 2, 2010. I have given this much thought and I have had many discus­sions with my family these past months. This was not an easy decision for me, but my family needs my help starting in April. For the past 31 years, I have had the opportunity to do what I love most: work with and for children. Being an educator is my passion and it has given me much happiness and ful­fillment to know that I have helped children grow academi­cally and socially. I also feel very fortunate to have worked with a dedicated, caring, and an exceptionally capable staff and administration. They not only are my colleagues, but they have become my friends and school family. I will sorely miss the students, staff, ad­ministrators, and you, the par­ent community!

I thank my staff, the Nor­folk School Committee, the administration, and the Nor­folk families for their support over the past years and work­ing with me to make the Free­man Centennial School a great school to learn, build friend­ships, and have fun.

Respectfully, Lucia M. Godfrey