Rosalie M. Tashjian
Thomas C. Passios Outstanding Principal
National Distinguished Principal

Rosalie is described by Superintendent James Marini as “a person of integrity” and one who “operates from a clear sense of her own values. A strong and effective advocate for her students, Mrs. Tashjian is a source of inspiration for her staff”. Assistant Superintendent Marc Kerble describes her as a sage, a leader, a facilitator, and a teacher. She imparts wisdom, fights for student services and resources, brings people together to plan, discuss, adopt, and/or revise, and coaches for success. The principal of Muraco School in Winchester for 15 years, Rosalie is a dedicated principal who is committed to the achievement of each child in her school.

Rosalie’s career in education includes teaching experience in regular and special education, in both public and independent schools, including a bilingual independent school and a bilingual-centered public school. She began her career in 1969 as a teacher in the Waltham Public Schools and subsequently served as a teacher and administrator in private, independent schools before assuming the principalship of the Muraco School in 1993.
The Francis J. Muraco School is a suburban school that in recent years has experienced an increase in both overall student population and diversity. “Mrs. Tashjian has embraced diversity as a source of strength for the school and has developed a school culture that every student is important and valued for who they are. School pride, collegiality, active parent involvement, and high student achievement are hallmarks of the Muraco School.”

Under Rosalie’s leadership, Muraco has seen improved student performance. Assessment data were analyzed and programs developed to improve MCAS results. The school day was restructured to provide uninterrupted blocks of instructional time, including a 90 minute literacy block and a 60 minute math block. During these times, a collaborative teaching approach is used to ensure that all students are accessing the curriculum. Assessment rubrics were developed and are used by students to self-evaluate their writing. Regular meetings with classroom teachers and specialists allow for a cooperative effort to plan appropriate strategies for at-risk students. The Muraco School “is consistently ranked among the highest MCAS scoring schools in the state.” In September 2005, Boston Magazine ranked Muraco the number one public elementary school in eastern Massachusetts. This was based on standardized test scores, teacher quality, educational resources, and student/faculty ratio, as well as other measures.

The Muraco attendance area is both socio-economically and culturally diverse. About 12% of the student population does not speak English as first language. Under Mrs. Tashjian’s leadership, this diversity is celebrated as one of the strengths of the school. A $7,500 grant was received from Kraft Foods/Atlantic Gelatin for a program entitled “Increasing Access to the Arts at the Muraco School in Celebration of Diversity”. “With budgetary restraints and the resultant cutbacks in art programs, this was an invaluable asset to the school.

Rosalie Tashjian’s involvement in a variety of programs exemplifies her exceptional dedication to the profession. As an example, she is currently being trained by the National Association of Elementary School Principals Association in the National Principal Mentoring Certification Program. This program integrates research-based mentoring best practices with participants’ experiential knowledge. Incorporating the skills she has acquired in this mentor training program, Rosalie has served as a mentor to an experienced administrator, but one that is new to the Winchester Public Schools. During “Tuesdays with Roaalie”, this principal indicates that he has “learned first hand from her about what it takes to not only lead a ‘good’ school, but rather a ‘great’ school”. She is credited with always having the time to “listen, share advice or offer critical feedback” and the mentoring relationship is truly valued.

Rosalie has also served on school evaluation teams for the Association of Independent Schools in New England (AISNE) and for the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC). She has served as a Coach/Consultant for the Massachusetts Department of Education, Coalition of Essential Schools Network, and as the Chairperson of the Winchester Full Day Kindergarten Study Committee. From 1998 to 2004 Rosalie was a member of the US Department of Education’s Principals’ Forum.

Mrs. Tashjian impacts not only the school community at Muraco School, but has “extended her outreach to female prison inmates through the Boston University College Behind Bars program.” In this capacity, she is a member of a team of mentors who volunteer to provide academic support to prisoners. Mentors visit the prisoners in pairs and arrange a schedule to assure that the prisoner receives at least one visit per month. Further guidance to students is provided through written correspondence from the mentors.

Other examples of Rosalie’s efforts to help others include serving as the Chairperson for “Respect for Human Differences”, a system-wide committee charged with strategizing ways to bring together an increasingly diverse population in an atmosphere of respect, and to further the system goal of fostering “a learning environment that recognizes, encourages, and values the diverse interests, talents and skills that enable students to excel and achieve to their potential.”

Mrs. Tashjian has also served on the Winchester Commission on Disabilities (1998-2004) and is a Community Advisor to the Winchester Multicultural Network. During her tenure at the Muraco School, the Winchester School of Chinese Culture has been welcomed to conduct weekend classes at the school. Similarly, the staff of St. Stephen’s Armenian Elementary School visited Muraco on “Shadow Day”, affording them the opportunity to share in the great things being accomplished by great teachers in a great school.

Rosalie lives in Wellesley with her husband John and is the proud mother of three daughters, Lisa, Joy, and Aimee.

Past Passios Award Recipients