Who is Amanda Emard — new principal at Bennett Elementary in Taunton?

TAUNTON — Amanda Emard describes her style of managing as servant leadership. It’s about prioritizing the needs and wellbeing of the staff.

"I want to be everyone’s coach. What do I need to do to get them to where they need to be?  What do they need from me?” she said.

With roughly 17 years of tenure and experience with Taunton Public Schools, Emard, 39, said this approach will serve her well in her new position: Principal for Edmund Hatch Bennett Elementary School.

Said Emard in her welcome letter to the school community : “My leadership vision for Bennett School is firmly rooted in collaboration, innovation, and a student-focused approach to education. I am dedicated to creating a safe and inclusive environment where every child feels valued and motivated to reach their maximum potential.”

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Emard replaces former Bennett Principal Michael Kelleher, who stepped down to return to teaching at Taunton High School.

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Who is Bennett's new principal Amanda Emard?

A Swansea native and current resident, Emard said in high school she “always gravitated towards lending hands to other students.”

This ultimately led to her wanting to focus on helping people with special needs.

“I just wanted a place to be a helping hand,” she said.

Emard has a bachelor’s in communication sciences & disorders from Worcester State University, a master’s in moderate disabilities from American International College and a second master’s in educational leadership from Bridgewater State University.

Her first job out of college, in 2007, was as a speech therapist with the READS Collaborative , working at the now former Caleb Barnum School in Taunton. In 2009, she switched to the role of special educator at Barnum, and then eventually transferred to Edward Leddy Preschool when Barnum closed.

In 2021, she became assistant principal at East Taunton Elementary School.

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Her accomplishments

At East Taunton Elementary Emard introduced a "Positive Behavior Incentive System" — Essentially a form of positive reinforcement, students had “expectations of behavior” to follow when in school, no matter if it’s the classroom, the hallways, lunch period, or recess.

Emard said “when we see students following the expected behavior,” they got tickets, which they could trade in at the school store for rewards.

Emard said her time and experience as a special educator greatly helped her as assistant principal when it came to supporting teachers.

“I could support teachers now in a different lens,” she said when it came to helping them follow new curriculums and creating strategies for teaching kids with special needs or behavioral issues.

“I wasn’t just sending them off alone. I was there with them,” Emard said.

Warm welcome at Bennett

Emard said it’s the relationships she’s built over the years in the school district that keep her in Taunton Public Schools.

“Taunton is my second home.  When I walk into a school building, it’s my home,” she said.

Emard is still “feeling out the culture here” at Bennett Elementary through summer meetings with staff, teachers and the district’s administration, before the 2024-2025 school year starts.

Regardless, she said she’s felt very welcomed at Bennett since arriving and is excited about the future.

Said Taunton Schools Superintendent John Cabral in a written statement: “Her experience, dedication to student success, and fresh approach to education make her an excellent fit for our school community. We are confident that Emard will continue to enhance the school’s standards and foster a supportive environment for all students.”

This article originally appeared on The Taunton Daily Gazette: Who is Amanda Emard — new principal at Bennett Elementary in Taunton?