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New Watson principal is familiar face
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Neighbors | Shaiyla Hakeem .Watson Elementary has a new school principal, Sheila Palombo. She has been a part of the Austintown school system for 14 years.
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Neighbors | Shaiyla Hakeem .Watson Elementary principal Sheila Palombo visited Amy Iacofano's second-grade Monday to check on her new student body. This is Palombo's first year as a principal.
By SHAIYLA HAKEEM
After 17 years, Watson Elementary opens its doors to a new principal.
Austintown native Sheila Palombo has been named as the school’s new administrator. Her roots are grounded deep within Austintown Township. Though this is her first year as a principal, she has been a a part of the school system for 14 years.
Palombo’s teaching career began at Lynn Kirk Elementary where she was a first-grade teacher. She later became a traveling kindergarten teacher for Lloyd, Davis and Woodside Elementary schools. Immediately before her current assignment as principal, Palombo served as a math coach for Watson and Woodside Elementary schools.
She holds a bachelor’s degree in elementary education and a master’s degree in childhood education, both of which were obtained at Youngstown State University.
Ironically, Palombo completed her student teaching at Watson Elementary, under the supervision of principal James Carchedi, whom she replaced.
“I vividly remember him doing magic tricks in the classrooms in the mornings,” she said. “Now I have to come up with something interesting to do.”
Palombo gives credit to former Lloyd Elementary School teacher Sandy Russell for her initial interest in a career as an educator. She said Russell always encouraged students to do the best they could and to go after their dreams.
“Teachers have no idea how much of an influence they may be on a young student,” Palombo said. “I wanted to make a difference.”
Most students, other than the kindergartners, already knew Palombo from her teaching duties. She said she would like to develop a strong relationship with every student and their parents. To do so, she has frequently visited the classrooms, lunchroom and talked to the students in the mornings and afternoons by the busses.
She has also attended PTA meetings and tries to greet each parent who enters the school.
“I don’t want to be the principal that is in the office all the time,” Palombo said. “I want to be accessible and I want them to feel comfortable talking to me.”
With more than 470 students under her supervision, Palombo is ready to tackle the academic year. She plans to maintain the standards and academic excellence that have already been set, while impacting as many students’ lives as possible.
“You know you’re really happy in a job when you wake up and can’t wait to go to work,” she said. “It’s Austintown — this is home.”