Newton North High School - Newtonian Yearbook (Newton, MA)

Page 14 text:

Atwood P. Dunham has been at Newton North tor fifteen years. the first six as a teacher and the last nine as assistant to the Principal Richard tvtechem. Mr. Dunham attended Phil- lips Andover Academy and Wesleyan and Boston Universi- ties. Mr Dunhams responsibilities around Newton North include grade processing. student registration and schedul- ing and the many other details which are involved in running a school the size of Newton North. Mr. Dunham is responsi- ble tor implementing Arena Scheduling. a major change in the scheduling procedure because it involves the students in what used to be a computer process. Ken Temkin is administrative assistant for both Newton North and the Newton School Department. l-le has worked for the school department since 1975. ln 1976 Mr. Temkin's job expanded when he took over the administrative responsi- bilities at Newton North Mr. Temkin attended Boston and George Washington Universities. As administrative assistant. Mr. Temkin is in charge ot such things as supply and equip- ment budgets and purchases. supply inventories and equip- ment maintenance and insurance for both Newton North and the Newton School Department. At Newton North Mr. Temkin also oversees the bursar's office and is business advisor to The Newtonite. Dan Malia is in charge ot both Newton's city wide and Newton North's Technical-Vocational Programs. He attended Gorham State College. the University of Connecti- cut. Harvard and Boston Universities. Mr. Malia, a former Riley Housemaster. was chosen tor the position by Superin- tendent Aaron Fink when Mr. Fink was starting plans which incorporated the Technical-Vocational Department within the high school. rather than within its own separate building. Mr. lvtalias duties as Technical-Vocational Director also involve him with the Work Study. Home Economics and Business Programs throughout the Newton School System. Atwood P. Dunham Ken Temkin 'Zag Dan Malia

Page 13 text:

Q. ...Y if r X im 1, 1 I I see the job of the principal as a guiding job, not a controlling one, said principal Richard Mechem. Mr. Mechem was born in Evanston, Illinois. He attended Harvard College and graduated with honors. He then went on to get a Master's Degree from Harvard Graduate School of Education. Before becoming principal of Newton North High School in 1960, Mr. Mechem was principal of Walnut Hills High School in Ohio. Newton North is a large school, but Mr. Mechem thinks of Newton North's size as an asset rather than a handicap. I believe in what I call the critical mass theory, which is that in order to accomplish anything you must have a critical mass, a large enough number of interested individuals. The size of Newton North allows it to reach this critical mass in many prOQf8fTIS which are not feasible in other schools. Mr. Mechem feels that a principal should guide and mediate, not direct. The schooI's diversity and depth allow it to run itself, so l can stand off to one side, making sure that no group goes in the wrong direction and that there are no clashing interests. About Newton North's graduating class of 1979, Mr. Mechem said, I see a positive increase in interest and commitment to the classroom, to athletics, to the arts, and to all extracurricular activities.

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PV Y 4 L - 1' ,E F - '.f. K. 4 . ' V . 6 X .. . .Q 4' ' 1 ..., CFRETAHIES its Elinor Andler Ann Caggiano Barbara Coffee Meg Connolly x by Ruth Ginsberg Elizabeth Linde Eugenia Copeland Marie Esposito if mil' . M--if Frances Goodman Elaine Kell Elsie McDermott Mary Miskella