NORWOOD — Superintendent David Thomson and Principal Dr. Hugh Galligan are pleased to announce the appointments of associate and assistant principals for the 2022-2023 school year.
“It is my pleasure to introduce Matt Curran and JuanManuel Gonzales as the new assistant principals at Norwood High School beginning in the 2022-2023 school year,” Dr. Galligan said. “I am excited for both of them to start in this next chapter at NHS as we aim to provide more full-time administrative support for students and staff. Their commitment to students, staff and families was evident throughout the search process, and I believe that commitment will greatly benefit the NHS community for years to come.”
Cindy Derrane, current assistant principal at Norwood High School, has also been named the associate principal under the administrative restructuring plan.
“Cindy Derrane has dedicated her heart and soul to the students of Norwood High School for more than 30 years,” Dr. Galligan said. “Her leadership, advocacy and compassion make her an obvious choice for the associate principal role and I look forward to her continued partnership in supporting the students, staff and families of NHS.”
JuanManuel Gonzales
Gonzales is currently serving as the Interim Dean of Students for the Natick Public Schools. Prior to serving in this role, Gonzales spent many years as an educator in Texas.
His professional experience includes high school teaching in both a regular education setting and an alternative education program, and he has served as an administrator at both the middle and high school levels. He is bilingual in English and Spanish.
He received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Texas at Brownsville and a master’s degree in education from the University of Texas at Arlington.
Gonzales’ administrative approach focuses on delivering a safe, respectful, inclusive, innovative, academically rich environment where teachers and students are able to learn and grow.
He is looking forward to joining the school community.
“During my interview process one theme consistently arose: community. I am looking forward to the opportunity to be a part of such a tight-knit community,” Gonzales said.
His personal interests include traveling, reading books, listening to a variety of music, watching the latest television shows and dabbling in the occasional trivia night.
Matt Curran
Curran has served in the dual role of dean/teacher at Norwood High School for the past five years. He has worked in the Norwood Public Schools for 25 years as both a substitute teacher and a paraprofessional, and for many years as a classroom social studies teacher. Curran has also coached within the district’s athletic program for many years, working mostly with the boys and girls track teams.
Curran has also supported the school and district through his membership and participation on the NHS Faculty Senate as well as in his role as a Unit A Representative for the Norwood Teachers Association.
Curran holds a Bachelor of Arts from Bridgewater State University and master’s degrees from both Endicott College and Simmons University.
Curran is a Norwood High School graduate, and he and his wife Shauna reside in Norwood with their four children.
Cindy Derrane
Derrane’s teaching career began in 1992 at Norwood High School where she taught Spanish at all grade levels. From 2004-2018 she served as the World Language Department chairperson for grades 6-12.
In 2018, Derrane was named the assistant principal. She was selected for her strengths in areas such as curriculum, instruction and assessment, and due to the relationships she was able to build with students and staff.
Derrane holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Massachusetts Boston and a master’s degree from Bridgewater State University.
“What I have enjoyed most in my time here in Norwood is working with the students and staff in this district,” Derrane said. “I love building these relationships and working with them to find out how to best meet their individual needs in order to reach their potential and find success. Working for the best interests of staff and students and meeting the diverse needs of each student who walks through our doors is my top priority.”
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