New Assistant Principal Matthew Gitkind is excited to be joining the Algonquin community.
Gitkind graduated from Connecticut College with a Bachelor of Arts degree in history and received a master’s degree in education from Simmons University. He taught at The Norwich Free Academy and Walpole High School before accepting his position as an Assistant Principal at Algonquin. The shift to a new role has posed some challenges.
“I was a classroom teacher for 11 years, and now I’m moving to a role where I’m a school administrator,” Gitkind said. “There is a great degree of overlap between those roles in the sense that the jobs still involve developing relationships with students, developing relationships with families and improving the educational process, but there are new things in this role that I did not do as a teacher.”
Despite having to adjust his work, connecting with others has remained a key part of his job description and is an essential aspect of education that draws Gitkind to work in schools.
“I was really looking forward to coming to a new school this year and meeting the student body,” Gitkind said. “I feel like I had a lot of good opportunities seeing everybody at the football game and in our first couple assemblies. Coming into a new school, the heart of the school is really seeing all the students that we have here and getting to meet the teachers.”
An aspect of Algonquin that stands out to Gitkind is the school’s academic vibrance.
“I feel really fortunate to have landed here because we have such an exemplary team of school administrators and teachers,” Gitkind said. “All of the classes that I walked into so far have been doing something really cool and different. If I’m like, ‘I’ve got time from 8:30 to nine, I’m gonna go walk around the hallways and see what’s going on,’ there’s a physics class that’s studying velocity by throwing Starbursts in the air or Mr. Kellet’s class looking at the Electoral College map while trying to draw a connection between the Constitution and the upcoming presidential election. That’s a really cool way to look at stuff.”
Gitkind’s focus thus far at Algonquin has largely been tied to the district’s greater attempts to enhance each community member’s sense of belonging.
“All of the research suggests that a sense of belonging is foundational to academic success and social success and all the other things that we hope that students get, so that’s something that I’m interested in,” Gitkind said.
Much of Gitkind’s experience emphasizing belongingness comes from his first teaching experience at The Norwich Free Academy, an alternative school for students who historically hadn’t succeeded in traditional school settings.
“The mission that we drove really hard there was that we had to make sure that the families and the community feel like we are reaching out to them, that they can come into the building and that this is their building too,” Gitkind said. “I learned in that role about the value of community outreach and family communication.”
Such principles have led Gitkind in his employment at Algonquin, allowing him to bring a new perspective to the administrative staff according to Assistant Principal Andrew McGowan.
“Mr. Gitkind has added to the team in the sense that he brings a different kind of background and a fresh perspective on the school as a whole,” McGowan said. “It’s interesting to hear what he has to say and watch him navigate the various components of this job.”
Having Algonquin as his first administrative experience also allows Gitkind to have a different take on the school.
“Anyone who comes from the classroom into the administration role regardless of what that may have looked like brings that connection that you can make with students to this role, and that’s the most important part of being an educator, whether you’re a classroom teacher or an administrator,” McGowan said. “How you can connect with the students, relate to them and work with them through challenges and successes is so important.”
Outside of school, Gitkind is an avid runner and hiker. He recently enjoyed hiking Franconia Notch with his wife whom he married over the summer. The two are undergoing home projects on their house in Westborough, the town where Gitkind grew up. Joining the Algonquin administration has meant excitement for Gitkind as he builds community for himself, Algonquin students and staff.
“Making sure that everyone feels like, ‘I am seen, I’m seeing you. I’m part of the community.’ That’s the main goal,” Gitkind said.
