RHS leader resigns

By Sally Lee,  

RAYMOND — Calling it one of the most difficult decisions of her career, Raymond High School Principal Barbara Brueggemann submitted her resignation this week. Brueggemann's resignation becomes effective at the end of her current contract, June 30, 2001. She revealed that she has accepted a post as the Dean of Faculty at a private high school in western Massachusetts.

"I hope I have made the right choice, it is the most difficult decision of my career and I want Raymond to know it," she said on Thursday. "And it continues to be difficult, it's not like I made the decision and suddenly it got easy. I am invested in this community more than I ever planned."

Brueggemann joined the Raymond High staff in 1998 as the assistant principal under Christopher George. When George departed the following year, Brueggemann applied for the principalship but remained when James Underwood was chosen for the post. After Underwood's resignation the following June, Brueggemann reapplied for the job, beating out three candidates for the position.

During a tumultuous year Brueggemann endured ostracism during Underwood's administration due to her efforts to comply with the Safe Schools Act requiring administrators to report crimes committed within school zones. Additionally she was not renewed to her position as the school's assistant principal by Superintendent Cheryl Stratchko.

However, during the County Attorney Office's investigation into the district's non-compliance with the state statutes Brueggemann was called the district's lone administrative "hero" by law enforcement officials. With the support of three School Board members she was named as Underwood's successor and subsequently enjoyed the support of Superintendent Al St. Cyr.

"My three years in Raymond have been among the most extraordinary in my life. I could stop now and write a book because no one believes it when I tell them all that has happened. I came here because I thought I could make a difference. I stayed because I like the people," she said.

Before arriving in Raymond Brueggemann served as a dean of students at UNH. She taught history and coached sports at a private high school in Connecticut where she also served as the dean of students. Immediately prior to her tenure at RHS she spent a year as the director for student life aboard the University of Pittsburgh's semester at sea program. She has been an educator for 17 years.

In her letter of resignation Brueggemann tells School Board Chairman Bill Kelley that she hopes that the School Board can become successful in coming "to value their school leadership."

"The students of Raymond depend on your collective wisdom," she continues, "and the leaders you hire and supervise deserve respect, support and fair compensation for the difficult work they do. This new board has the opportunity to change the old way of thinking and provide the necessary stability for a strong educational community."

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