CHESHIRE, Mass. — In his new role as Hoosac Valley Middle School principal, Dwayne Chamble is working to shatter statistics through a relationship-driven approach inspired by the educators who supported him growing up. 

 

"It's about forming relationships because I really believe that relationships are at the heart of everything we do," he said. 

 

"So, if we want to have increased test scores, we want to have academic excellence and high expectations, we have to have a concerted, explicit relationship-building push with our students, with our families, and we only do that by listening." 

 

The former Principal Lisa Lesser stepped down from the position at the end of June after receiving an opportunity to work as a curriculum director, which she could not refuse, Superintendent Aaron Dean said. 

 

From there, the district underwent a swift month-and-a-half-long search, receiving 13 candidates, but was drawn to Chamble's people- and service-oriented approach. 

 

"Anybody that I spoke to that has worked with him has said he's got boundless energy. He loves the work. He's dedicated to it, and we'll do anything to make sure that kids get what they need," Dean said.

 

Chamble said a large part of his role is being a listener, emphasizing the importance of hearing from staff, families and the community about what is working and what needs to change.

 

Building those relationships will create stronger partnerships that can create an environment where academic performance improves, and students feel valued and seen, he said. 

 

"Ultimately, I feel that if I am able and will create that environment through our relationships that we create, that we will be able to achieve those high expectations with test scores and overall feedback from our students, from our families, that we are making an impact, and that is really at the heart of my leadership," Chamble said. 

 

The district does not shy away from the challenges it has ahead, including community concerns about test scores and academic engagement, while continuing to adjust to the restructuring after Cheshire School closed and grades were configured, 

 

Dean and Chamble say they plan to meet those concerns by strengthening relationships with students and families, tightening classroom engagement, and rebuilding a sense of community.

 

Education can interrupt the cycle of circumstance when schools recognize that students don't all walk through the door with the same resources or experiences, he said.

 

Chamble went through the Brooklyn, N.Y., public school system in the early 2000s, commuting an hour to school each day and struggling through high school. However, he said, the people in education saw his potential before he saw it in himself.

 

"When I think about my life, I think about when they say, statistically, I should not be here, with all of the things that I've experienced and all of the situations I've been in," he said. 

 

"But I will say that it has been education, it has been reaching out and getting different experiences that allowed me to make different choices in my life, that allowed me to open myself up to newness and differences. 

 

"And in that place, I was able to thrive because I learned things about myself that I would not have learned right in my environment."

 

Today, Chamble holds a master's degree in educational leadership from Fitchburg State University and a K through 12 principal license through the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.

 

Prior to taking on this role, Chamble spent 12 years in the Amherst-Pelham Regional School District, first serving as the out-of-school time coordinator for 10 years, overseeing the K through 12 before-school, after-school, and summer programming. 

 

This role brought him in touch "with literally everybody in the school system" where he was able to harness genuine relationships, with staff, students, and families. 

 

"I worked out of the family center, which was the bridge between a community and the school system," he said. 

 

Chamble said some of the best advice he received when he began his career in education was to treat every student as though they were his own child. 

 

"Treat them how you would want your child to be treated, and if you do that, parents will understand when we make mistakes because we all are going to make mistakes at certain points. But parents know that you have the best interests of their children in mind," he said. 

 

Chamble said his educational journey is ongoing, emphasizing the importance of being a lifelong learner, continuing to read and discovering new aspects of oneself. 

 

The last two years he served as the school support and engagement liaison, working directly in the office of the superintendent which inspired him to continue his career and obtain his masters. 

 

"I was able to get another experience of administration, seeing it from a higher level. And I always say I was able to peek behind the veil, sort of, and see what really happens," he said. 

 

Connecting with students and understanding their circumstances is important because every student comes from a different environment, has experienced hardships or trauma, or does not receive all the necessities they need, he said. 

 

"We're expecting them to learn at these high levels but, as was done with me, we can't do that until somebody sees [them, what they need to thrive and succeed, and how as an institution they can make that happen,]" Chamble said. 

 

This vision is something that Chamble believes the district shares, from its administration and staff, and is what drove him to this role with Hoosac Valley. 

 

Chamble brings a classroom-focused perspective to the district, with an emphasis on deeper student engagement and reaching students who have traditionally been difficult to engage, Dean said. 

 

Additionally, he serves as an important role model for students who may not feel seen or heard, particularly young black students and young men, because they will see someone who looks like them in a leadership position.