By Chris Lisinski
clisinski@nashobavalleyvoice.com
GROTON — Tyngsboro High School principal Michael Woodlock was officially named the next principal of Groton-Dunstable Regional High School Monday, less than a week after the district’s superintendent recommended him as the ideal choice to the School Committee.
Groton-Dunstable officials announced Woodlock’s appointment in a press release Monday and noted that he was the unanimous choice of the screening committee established to find a replacement for current principal Michael Mastrullo, who is leaving the district at the end of June to become principal at Concord-Carlisle high school.
“We are so very excited to have Mr. Woodlock join our skilled team,” said Groton-Dunstable Superintendent Kristan Rodriguez in the release. “We look forward to entry planning and transition planning over the next few months.”
The School Committee approved Woodlock’s contract on Saturday. He will take over on July 1, one day after Mastrullo departs the district.
Tyngsboro Superintendent Donald Ciampa could not be reached immediately for comment.
In an interview, Woodlock praised Groton-Dunstable’s educational caliber and said he is seeking a new professional challenge after spending almost two decades in Tyngsboro.
“(Groton-Dunstable) has a tremendous track record,” he said. “Partly, it’s a choice for me to challenge myself professionally. I’ve been in the same school system for close to 20 years.”
Woodlock began his career as a social studies teacher and worked in a variety of roles, including five years as head football coach, before becoming the high school principal in 2011.
“That’s been the best thing about Tyngsboro: I’ve had a lot of different opportunities,” he said.
During that time, Woodlock said he worked hard to bring the community together.
“I think I have the ability to build a strong culture within a school and to be inclusive in the decision-making processes so that parents and students and teachers feel that they contribute to the process,” he said. “I think I have a strength in leading people down that road.”
He said he will miss the relationships he has built in Tyngsboro, but is happy nonetheless to begin a new chapter in Groton-Dunstable.
“I’ve been here (in Tyngsboro) for 18 years, so I have a lot of great relationships with people here,” he said. “By far, that’s what I’ll miss the most … (But) I’m very excited, obviously. It’s an amazing opportunity.”
Follow Chris Lisinski on Twitter and Tout @ChrisLisinski.
