NOTA-MASSE

EAST GREENWICH — Jeannine L. Nota-Masse, an assistant principal at Cranston High School East and former teacher in the Providence schools, has been named to succeed Michael Levine as principal of East Greenwich High School.

Nota-Masse, 36, will assume her duties July 1; Levine is retiring after more than 30 years in education. The School Committee this week gave her a two-year contract, with an annual salary of $104,000; assuming her completion of the first, probationary year, the contract will be extended to a third year.

She has been an assistant principal at Cranston East for seven years, the last two as assistant for academic affairs. In East Greenwich she will be heading a school with less than half East’s 1,700 enrollment.

“I’ve had a variety of students, clearly some who are struggling academically and economically. We also have the other end of the spectrum,” she said yesterday. “It’s a different set of challenges. Kids will be kids. They are hardwired to do the things that teenagers will do. The way problems manifest themselves will be different.”

The school board voted on Tuesday to appoint Nota-Masse, who was among three finalists from an initial field of 11 candidates. Board member Marilyn J. Friedemann abstained in the vote.

“We are really fortunate to have someone of her caliber,” Supt. Charles E. Meyers said of Nota-Masse. “I was looking for someone who had a good grasp of the [new] Rhode Island [high school] diploma requirements, who could have credibility with the teachers. We [also] wanted somebody who was not so many years out of the classroom.”

Nota-Masse is a graduate of Classical High School and a 15-year veteran educator who began teaching in the Providence schools two days after she received her bachelor’s from Rhode Island College. She worked in Providence, essentially as an English teacher, from 1993 through June 2001, earning her master’s in education from Providence College along the way.

“I’ve taught all over [in Providence]. You get bounced around,” Nota-Masse said.

After receiving her graduate degree, she accepted the assistant principal position at Cranston High School East in 2001. She said she has enjoyed her job there but was ready to take on the challenge of being a principal.

“I love working with all types of kids. The kids give you the boost every day. I’m very sad to leave Cranston East. Leaving them is very bittersweet. They have been like a family,” Masse said.

But she added that she is looking forward to the smaller academic community. In her Cranston East position, she said, said she had “more scheduling and behind-the-scenes stuff.

“As principal, I’d like to more visible and available. I think I will get to know the kids better.”

lsparks@projo.com