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NEW BEDFORD, MASSACHUSETTS – The School Committee of Greater New Bedford Regional VocationalTechnical High School is pleased to announce Michael P. Watson of Dartmouth has been selected as the seventh Superintendent/Director of the school, succeeding James L. O’Brien who is retiring in July 2021.
The selection of Mr. Watson, who has been the school’s Academic Principal since 2016, was made during a School Committee meeting on November 21, 2020 following a search that began shortly after Mr. O’Brien announced his retirement in June. The School Committee interviewed eight applicants over the Summer and early Fall, before selecting three finalists, including Mr. Watson.
The selection of Mr. Watson, who has been the school’s Academic Principal since 2016, was made during a School Committee meeting on November 21, 2020 following a search that began shortly after Mr. O’Brien announced his retirement in June. The School Committee interviewed eight applicants over the Summer and early Fall, before selecting three finalists, including Mr. Watson.“Mike Watson is passionate about Greater New Bedford Voc Tech and our mission to provide students with the opportunity to receive both a good education and a skill for life,” said Randall C. Durrigan of Fairhaven, GNBRVT School Committee Chairman. “Mike has been an instrumental part of the current leadership team that has steadily increased the academic performance of our students, he has a sound understanding of budgeting and we expect there to be a seamless transition from Jim O’Brien’s administration.”
Prior to being named Academic Principal, Mr. Watson spent nine years as a history teacher at GNBVT and eight years as a history teacher at Coyle and Cassidy High School in Taunton. He was the boys’ basketball coach at Coyle and Cassidy and Assistant Athletic Dir>
Mr. Watson also served on the Town of Dartmouth Select Board, including two terms as Chair. He received a master’s degree in Teaching and a degree in Business Administration both from the University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth.
Mr. Watson also served on the Town of Dartmouth Select Board, including two terms as Chair. He received a master’s degree in Teaching and a degree in Business Administration both from the University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth.
“Vocational Technical education provides students with skills and opportunities for a lifetime after high school and I am excited to continue building upon the success that’s made Greater New Bedford Voc-Tech into one of the top performing voc-tech high schools in the Commonwealth over the last five years,” said Michael P. Watson, Superintendent/Director-
“As we conducted our search, Mike Watson stood out from the very beginning,” said Frederick J. Toomey of New Bedford, Vice Chair of the GNBRVT School Committee. “His passion for voc-tech education, coupled with his strong business and government background make him the right leader at the right time. Mike is an innovator and educator, and I am confident he will continue to find new ways of ensuring the education and skills our students learn will keep GNB Voc-Tech Artisans at the bedrock of our communities for many years to
come.”
come.”