Spencer, MA – Superintendent Paul S. Haughey is pleased to announce the appointment of Mrs. Mary LaFreniere as the new principal David Prouty High School, effective July 1. Mrs. LaFreniere brings a wealth of experience and a strong track record of educational leadership, making her a valuable addition to the Spencer East Brookfield Regional School District community.
Mrs. LaFreniere joins David Prouty High School from Narragansett Middle School in Baldwinville, MA, where she has served as principal since 2018. During her tenure, Mrs. LaFreniere demonstrated steady leadership in curriculum development, student support initiatives, and community engagement. Under her leadership, Narragansett Middle School expanded its curriculum offerings, introduced new support programs for students placed at-risk, and strengthened community relations through innovative programs and events.
Mrs. LaFreniere 's leadership improved the school’s overall performance, particularly in the post-pandemic period. Her focus on enhancing the school culture and climate played a crucial role in these achievements - fostering a positive and inclusive environment that encouraged student engagement and academic success. Moreover, she developed a new master schedule, scheduled all students, ensured staff received high-quality professional development opportunities, and oversaw all aspects of the school's management and operations.
Before serving as principal at Narragansett for the past seven years, Mrs. LaFreniere was the principal at Quaboag Regional Middle/High School after a lengthy career as a classroom teacher there. While principal at Quaboag Regional Middle/High School, she supervised the curriculum and instructional work at the school, which saw significant growth in math, science, and English Language Arts. Additionally, Quaboag saw significant increases in Advanced Placement course offerings, enrollment, and qualifying scores.
"I am thrilled to join David Prouty High School and work with such a dedicated community of educators, students, and families," said Mrs. LaFreniere. "My goal is to inspire and lead the DPHS community to ensure that all students feel safe, supported, and prepared for their future endeavors. I firmly believe that students deserve to be recognized for their achievements and encouraged to become meaningful members of the school community by helping them recognize their own strengths and learn how they can best contribute to a positive, supportive environment in which they can thrive as their best selves. School culture is a passion of mine, and I am already impressed with what I have seen at David Prouty. I look forward to building upon the strong foundation already in place by strengthening the partnership with both of our communities, Spencer and East Brookfield, MA.”
Mrs. LaFreniere's experience and leadership in secondary education make her the ideal candidate to guide David Prouty now and into the future. Her passion and commitment to student achievement came through in the interview process, especially during the site visit. “She told it like it is with every question asked,“ said Superintendent of Schools, Paul Haughey. “Finally, I’d like to thank the members of the search committee, including administrators, teachers, parents, students, and School Committee members, for their time and due diligence. We took our time with this process and wanted to make sure we provided everyone with the opportunity to be heard, and I would be remiss if I did not acknowledge the time and energy of those who took part in the search.”
Mrs. LaFreniere and her husband come from large families, and she enjoys spending time with them when she’s not working. She also enjoys cooking, skiing, and traveling—especially out West in the National Parks--whenever possible.