Watertown School Admin. Turns Down Lincoln-Eliot Principal Job

The principal search at Lincoln-Eliot Elementary has had a bit of a setback. 

Watertown Interim Assistant Superintendent Darilyn Donovan has turned down the principal job at , the Newton superintendent's office told Patch this week. 

Donovan was hired earlier this year and Newton Superintendent David Fleishman  She was set to start July 1.

According to a memo issued to Lincoln-Eliot families earlier this month, Fleishman said Donovan changed her mind about the position and the job has been re-posted for applications. 

"As you can imagine, we are stunned and disappointed," Fleishman said in the memo. 

To read a copy of the memo, click the .pdf to the right.

The principal position will soon open up at Lincoln-Eliot as Interim Principal Greg Hurray has said he will retire at the end of this school year. 

Fleishman assured the community that Lincoln-Eliot is a school that "is functioning very well right now and we are optimistic that reopening the search will result in a positive outcome."

"While this is a temporary setback, I know the Lincoln-Eliot faculty, staff and community is resilient and able to weather this unexpected event. Please know that we will do everything possible to ensure that the excellent leadership in place at the school continues," Fleishman said in the memo.