Gardner principal heads to Orange; Anthony Gansis to serve as interim.

Byline: Danielle M. Williamson

Michael Baldassarre, Gardner High School's principal for two years, is leaving the district to becoming special education director for Ralph C. Mahar Regional School in Orange.

Mr. Baldassare, 33, gave his notice this week and is already listed on the regional school's Web site as part of Mahar's new administrative team.

Though his last day as principal is Aug. 31, Mr. Baldassarre will stay on as "a resource person," until Sept. 14, Gardner Superintendent Carol Daring said. Gardner High Assistant Principal Anthony D. Gansis will be interim principal until the district finds a permanent replacement. School officials will likely to form a search committee.

"Mike has brought a great deal of enthusiasm to the district," Mrs. Daring said. "I wish him the best. This new position is a real feather in his cap."

Mr. Baldassarre was hired by Mrs. Daring's predecessor, Anne L. Towle, in May 2005. Mrs. Daring replaced Mrs. Towle several months later.

In a telephone interview yesterday, Mr. Baldassarre talked about his positive experiences in Gardner, and said he was excited to start his new position.

He said he is proud of the "shared decision-making process" he helped implement in Gardner, which involves faculty and an advisory board of students in school decisions. The school's tardy rate was lowered to below 3 percent, and special education students take classes with regular education students, he said. Community service also became a bigger part of the school, with students able to get credits for volunteer projects.

Mr. Baldassarre praised Mount Wachusett Community College President Daniel M. Asquino, with whom he has worked to forge a stronger connection between the school and the college, and lauded the high school's faculty, staff and students.

"My sense as a principal hasn't been that the teachers and students work for me," Mr. Baldassarre said. "My feeling has been, I work for them. If I keep that mentality, I believe I'll be successful in every position I take."

Mr. Baldassarre will oversee Mahar's special education students in Grades 7 through 12. According to the state Department of Education's Web site, approximately 20 percent of the school's 747 students have special education needs.

As a central office position, the new job is a step up from principal, Mr. Baldassarre and Mrs. Daring said.

Mahar Regional School District Superintendent Reza Namin said welcomed Mr. Baldassarre on the district's Web site.

Mr. Baldassarre said he does not yet have an official start date in Orange, but expects he will begin in the next two weeks.

One of the youngest school administrators in the region, Mr. Baldassarre has also been assistant principal at Stoughton High School. Before that, he was dean of students at Xaverian Brothers High School in Westwood.

In April, he was a finalist for the principal's job at Billerica High School.

Mr. Baldassarre said the position at Mahar, a school he described as having a "strong sense of team," was too good an opportunity to pass up.

His salary in Gardner was $91,800. His new salary at Mahar was not immediately available yesterday.

ART: PHOTO

CUTLINE: Mr. Baldassare