Chris Kusek a new Assistant Principal at ARHS

When Talib Sadiq moved to a one-year position as the principal of both ARMS and ARHS, taking him away from ARHS much of the time, ARHS added an Interim Assistant Principal to lighten the load for existing Assistant Principals  Sam Camera and Miki Gromacki. That person is Chris Kusek, who formerly worked in the Pathways to Independence Program at ARHS and as a district-wide intensive needs administrator. 

In his current role, Kusek is responsible for the Special Education and English Language Learner departments, and he also assists the 504 coordinator, helps with PSAT administration, and supports the Deans’ office.

Kusek grew up in Philadelphia during his childhood and left home to study at the University of Notre Dame. After college, Kusek worked in the Peace Corps in Ghana where he ultimately decided he wanted to go into the field of education. 

After coming back from Ghana, Kusek received his master’s degree from George Washington University in Washington, DC. Kusek then went to UMass, where he decided to become an educational administrator. 

Before joining the Amherst school district, Kusek held a multitude of positions. He taught for three years in the Montgomery County public schools right outside of Washington, DC. After moving to Massachusetts, Kusek took a step back from classroom teaching and worked for a company that ran gap year service learning trips for students. He also worked at Franklin Tech for ten years, as a teacher, department head, and track and field coach. 

“I love being part of all the diversity and I love being in a college town,” said Kusek. “ARHS feels like a community and is small enough to learn the ins and outs and make relationships.”

Kusek said that every day at ARHS “is really different,” something he appreciates. “I experience a mix between direct contact with teachers and students which is different from previous jobs I’ve had in central office,” said Kusek. 

A big part of Kusek’s job is supporting the evaluation and professional development of teachers. “Due to my specific job within the Special Education department a lot of my job is also supporting the IEP [or Individualized Education Plans for special education students] team process,” said Kusek. 

When asked what the biggest difference is between his previous and current job is, he noted that he is now “one step removed from the students.” 

The opportunity to become an assistant principal allows Kusek to shape broader district policy and inform the work that is done in the District. “It was a hard decision to leave the classroom, but ultimately I think I’m in the right place,” said Kusek. 

Kusek’s mission as an educator is to “help students find their individual path to adulthood that maximizes their potential.” He thinks about high school as “a training ground to find your way in a very complex and diverse adult world.” 

In his new role, he said he is “getting used to a whole new skillset and working with a new team in a new way.”

“The keys to a successful team are communication and having a common sense of purpose, and this creates a sense of trust between team members,” said Kusek. 

High school is a training ground to find your way in a very complex and diverse adult world.

CHRIS KUSEK

Outside of school, Kusek loves the outdoors. “I love spending my time trail running and mountain biking,” he said. Additionally, Kusek tries to bike to work every day that he can, which is a new goal of his. “Being outdoors, spending time with my family, and traveling are all constants that give me joy,” Kusek said. 

Kusek moved to the Pioneer Valley in 2006 and lives with his wife and two daughters, who are ten and nine. Their three-year-old golden retriever, Fergus, is a “quarantine puppy,” said Kusek. 

When asked if he plans to stay within the Amherst district, Kusek said he’d “love to stay in the position or one like it moving forward.” 

Kusek’s primary goal for the school year is to “promote a better sense of understanding of special education services.”