For Immediate Release

Tuesday, June 21, 2016

Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: [email protected]

MHS Assistant Principal Jason Merrill Appointed as Interim High School Principal

MELROSE — Superintendent of Schools Cyndy Taymore announces that Melrose High School Assistant Principal Jason Merrill has been appointed as Interim Principal for the upcoming school year.

Merrill replaces Marianne Farrell, current MHS Principal, who will transition to the Director of Finance and Administrative Affairs for the district. He will step into his new role on July 1.

A 1996 graduate of MHS, Merrill has 16 years of experience in education, with the last 10 in high school administration. He is a Melrose Public Schools parent, a Melrose resident and has worked directly with Superintendent Taymore and Principal Farrell over the last three years.

“Jason Merrill has excelled in his position as Assistant Principal at MHS and his move to Interim Principal makes for the most natural transition for students, teachers and staff as we conduct our search to permanently fill the role,” Superintendent Taymore said. “I am confident that Jason’s expertise will successfully guide MHS as we continue our efforts to raise academic rigor and support students’ intellectual pursuits.”

Merrill came to the Melrose school district in 2013, after a lengthy stint in the Saugus Public Schools, where he began as a Saugus High School Physical Education and Health teacher in 2000. He then worked as the Athletic Director, Assistant Principal and Interim Principal for Saugus High School before accepting the Assistant Principal position at MHS.

As the educational leader of Melrose High School, Merrill is looking to continue the goal of further increasing academic rigor. In the past few years, enrollment into Advanced Placement courses has doubled and students have taken advantage of dual enrollment opportunities at local colleges and universities to expand their studies and earn college credit. Going forward, Merrill will work to maintain a safe learning environment for students and a supportive and collaborative atmosphere for teachers and staff.

“I am excited to start my new role at Melrose High School and look forward to partnering with staff, families and the community to continue to provide students with the best possible experience,” Merrill said. “As an alumnus, I owe much of my success to MHS, so I take the opportunity to lead the school very seriously. I will continue to encourage the culture of excellence that has developed under Marianne Farrell.”

Merrill has a bachelor’s degree in physical education from Bridgewater State University and a master’s degree in school administration from Cambridge College.

The district will be posting the Assistant Principal job shortly, and Superintendent Taymore expects to be able to fill the position internally, thanks to the deep talent pool developed by the Melrose Public Schools.

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