Dexter volunteered to work in the U.S. Peace Corps from 1988 to 1991. He lived in Togo, West Africa, where he used his proficiency in French and helped build roads and bridges in Togolese villages.
Togo RPCV Stephen Dexter is adjusting to his new job as Westwood High School Principal
Dexter settling in at Westwood High
By Priscilla Yeon/ Staff Writer
Thursday, July 28, 2005
Stephen Dexter is slowly moving into his new office at Westwood High. His computer and new e-mail address are already set up in the main office and he is contemplating whether to hang some pictures on the wall.
Dexter, a Canton resident, was recently hired to take over the position of former Assistant Principal Emily Parks, who became the new principal of the school after Jean Wentworth left the district.
A former assistant principal of Middleboro High School, Dexter said he wanted to come to Westwood because of the high school's reputation.
"I heard a lot of great things about the school to further education. I also heard about transitions and changes in the administration, and I come from a place with transitions," said Dexter. "It seems a very exciting place to be and I wanted to be part of it."
He is still learning about the new high school, he said.
"I'm very impressed with the commitment of the town to build such a beautiful building. That shows how much the town values education," he said.
Because 17 staff members either retired or left the school at the end of this past school year, Dexter is in charge of hiring new people and updating the student handbook during the summer.
Prior to working in Middleboro, Dexter was a social studies teacher in Quincy High School from 1995 to 2001.
Life takes twists and turns, said Dexter, who worked for the government from 1988 to 1993 before becoming an educator.
Dexter volunteered to work in the U.S. Peace Corps from 1988 to 1991. He lived in Togo, West Africa, where he used his proficiency in French and helped build roads and bridges in Togolese villages.
He also worked at the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C., as a congressional liaison for immigration affairs.
His government jobs spurred Dexter's interest to learn more about the world, he said.
"So I pursued my master's degree at Boston College," said Dexter, who received a degree in history.
From there he started teaching and has continued in the field of education ever since.
Dexter attended McGill University in Montreal, Canada, where he received his bachelor's degree in political science.
He also received his certificate in education administration from University of Massachusetts, Boston, in 2001.
In an interview, prior to leaving the district, Wentworth said she was pleased with the pool of candidates for the assistant principal position, and said it was a mutual choice between her and Parks to pick Dexter.
Parks said she believes Dexter will be a great addition to the department.
"I'm very excited to have him join us," said Parks. "I got a sense he wants to be very visible to the community, a person who is out and about in the building."
Reporter Priscilla Yeon can be reached at pyeon@cnc.com or (781) 433-8355
