SALISBURY — Longtime Addison Central School District educator Bjarki Sears has been named the next principal of the Salisbury Community School.

Sears will succeed veteran Principal Fernanda Canales on July 1. Canales will retire after 16 years helming the Salisbury School (see story).

Sears is currently a Middlebury Union High School social studies teacher. His varied responsibilities have included social studies department coordinator (2010-2020) and service on the MUHS Commencement, Scheduling and National Honor Society Selection committees.

He previously served as a paraeducator at both Mary Hogan Elementary School in Middlebury and at Twinfield Union School in Marshfield. Sears’ time at Mary Hogan included work at the school’s Success Center, a program for children experiencing emotional difficulties.

“I am super excited about the opportunity, and feel honored to become the principal of Salisbury Community School,” Sears told the Independent. “It is a school with a wonderful staff; one that has benefitted from the exemplary leadership of Fernanda Canales. In my school visit, I was struck by the warmth and structure of the environment, and I look forward to facilitating not just the continuation of good work and strong systems but also working closely with the staff, community and students to identify ways in which we want to continue to grow. One of my primary goals is to engage the community — to really re-solidify the connections between the school and the community after two years of COVID-created distance and boundaries.”

The Independent will conduct a more thorough interview with Sears closer to his Salisbury starting date.

ACSD Superintendent Peter Burrows announced Sears’ appointment in a March 9 email.

“Bjarki is well known throughout our community for his passion for learning, his leadership, and his commitment to being student-centered in all facets of his life,” Burrows said. “Bjarki is incredibly excited to get started in his new leadership role, to get to know the Salisbury community more deeply, and continue the great work that all are engaged in.”

Reporter John Flowers is at johnf@addisonindependent.com.