Derek Medeiros didn’t have vocational on his resume, but he had it in his life, and the opportunity to experience that side of public education is a logical step for the 43-year-old principal of Rochester Memorial School.
The opportunity emerged this spring to join Greater New Bedford Vocational-Technical High School as one of two assistant principals. Medeiros accepted.
Medeiros intended to spend significant time at RMS, but he didn’t expect the job to last 10 years.
“It’s always hard to judge when it’s time, but knowing that I spent the first 10 years of my career in New Bedford Public Schools and now this second 10 years here at Rochester Memorial,” he knew in his gut it was time to seize the opportunity to do something he always wanted to do.
Medeiros wasn’t looking for a way out, but the opening at GNB Voc-Tech piqued his interest. “Not only is it in the high school setting … but it’s also the vocational setting,” he said.
During his tenure at RMS, Medeiros collaborated on educational exchange projects with Old Colony Superintendent Aaron Polansky and Principal Mike Parker (a former Old Rochester Regional District educator) and had also had high school experience as a hockey coach, but this will be Medeiros’ first high school and first vocational job on the academic/administrative side.
“The vocational setting has always been intriguing for me because as a kid, our family was a product of a vocational student. My dad was an electrician,” said Medeiros. “Obviously, I started working with him when I was around 12 or 13 years old. I actually had ambitions to take over his business.”
Instead, Medeiros became an eighth-grade math teacher at Pulaski School in New Bedford before shifting to a larger role as an elementary-math coach, allowing him to expand from 90-100 students to work with every grade in the building. It was suggested during that career that he would make a good fit as an administrator.
“One of the things that they said was – it’s kind of hard to talk about yourself – my wanting to be personable with everybody. I was kind of like that as a kid in high school. I was the one who was kind of like Switzerland, I was friends with everybody,” said Medeiros. “I just tried to live my life like that. I love people, I love interaction, especially kids. That’s why we do what we do.”
He realized in his math-coaching role how much he enjoyed working with teachers, staff members and students, be it a wider group or an individual needing to close the gap or for enrichment. “Really, being able to use my skills to bring the team together, and I think that’s what made us all successful,” he said.
In 2009, before embarking on the new frontier as principal at Rochester Memorial, Medeiros began his administrative career with a two-year stint as principal at Hathaway (elementary) School in New Bedford. There he was introduced to a new level of problem solving, curriculum issues, scheduling and discipline.
The challenge in coming to the Tri-Towns in 2013 was in his first job outside of his hometown school district. After a most-recent move from Rochester, his children are about to find out what life is like outside of the Tri-Towns in neighboring Fairhaven.
Medeiros’ inspiration to educate came from his life as a student at New Bedford High, where he felt an impact from administrators Jeffrey Longo and Joseph Oliver.
“New Bedford High School is a huge school, right? … My graduating class was 980 or something like that. … The personal connections they made with all of us, I feel like they knew almost every kid in that building,” he said, recalling the intercom slogan, “Live, love and learn.”
After one year of soccer, Medeiros was a hockey kid through and through.
“The teachers that I had in that building, the coaches – I still see Kenny Gouveia all the time and Paul Brasells and Shawn Tavares,” he says, recalling sessions with fitness trainer Norm Meltzer.
When driving by NBH with his children in the car, he says, “There’s my high school, the best four years of my life – obviously, ’til you guys came along.”
“Over the years, his focus on student data has helped lead the way for strong student outcomes. However, what I admire most about his leadership is his insistence on ensuring that school is a safe and welcoming environment for all students and families,” said ORR Superintendent Mike Nelson in a press release announcing Medeiros’ departure.
“Mr. Medeiros will be greatly missed at RMS. He is known for his weekly ‘Medeiros Minutes’ through which he provides important information for school families and the community and always encourages the students to take care of each other and our school,” said Rochester School Committee Chairperson Sharon Hartley.
Medeiros will assist Nelson in the summer’s transition work, making sure Rochester Memorial School is ready for the 2023-24 school year in terms of both programming and the facility. His last day at RMS is Friday, August 18.
By Mick Colageo