Dr. Joanne Menard will continue her 24-year career in education as East Longmeadow’s newest superintendent.
Reminder Publishing submitted photo
EAST LONGMEADOW — East Longmeadow Public Schools is introducing a couple new firsts with the 2026-2027 school year on the horizon — the first year with the new East Longmeadow High School and Dr. Joanne Menard’s first year as superintendent.
The district hired Menard in January while she served as assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction at Holliston Public Schools. She officially began with ELPS in July after former Superintendent Gordon Smith’s retirement.
She has a bachelor’s degree in marketing from The Ohio State University, a master of education in elementary education from Anna Maria College, a certificate of advanced graduate study in educational leadership from Fitchburg State University and a doctorate of education in educational leadership from the University of Hartford.
Menard said she has taken an “odd journey through life” leading up to her start in East Longmeadow. She began in the working-world as a sales manager for the waste management company, Browning-Ferris Industries, before spending some time in South Korea with her family.
“I got into education after my youngest went to school,” Menard said. “I taught at Wachusett Regional School District, and also [Spencer-East Brookfield Regional School District] for a total of 11 years.”
Menard brings teaching experience across multiple grade levels and subject areas, including fifth grade English language arts and science, seventh and eighth grade science and STEM and eighth grade math.
She also served as Medway Public Schools’ STEM curriculum and instruction coach before a four-year principalship with Petersham School District and a two-year secondary principalship with Gill-Montague Regional School District.
Menard said she initially applied for this position because of Western Massachusetts and East Longmeadow’s location and “community feel.” She added that she loves the involvement that parents and the community have in the school district.
She already has a goal in mind as well for improving the district during her first year.
“In my first year, I want to concentrate through the winter in really listening,” Menard said. “I’m doing a lot of entry interviews with town department heads, Town Council members, School Committee members, admin, central office workers, and then I go out to the community. From those listening tours, I’m finding out what people really believe are the strengths, the weaknesses and the opportunities for the school district, and also ways that we can partner with outside groups to just strengthen the school district. From those findings, I’m going to present action steps for the next steps we’ll take as a district. It’s very much a collaborative process. It’s me listening to the people that have been in the district, their thoughts and their wants for the district.”
Menard has already begun to interact with the community in preparation for the school year’s start, stating that she believes the “leader of the schools” should be embedded in the community.
“I’ve been to Summer Fest, the time capsule unveiling, I had a booth at National Night Out,” Menard said. “I really want to be part of the community. It’s been incredible getting to know the department leaders, and [Town Manager Tom Christensen]. I’m having a weekly meeting with him, so it’s really getting to know the feel of the school and how I can partner with the town and outside groups, such as colleges bringing things to our district that we haven’t had before. It’s been a very warm and welcoming time for me, and I’m just looking forward to leading the school district.”
She said she looks forward most to meeting all of the staff and students within the district and being a regular visitor in the schools.
“Relationships are the most important thing,” Menard said. “That’s what I’ve been concentrating on all summer.”
