Westlake selects principals for LBMS, Holly Lane
Two experienced educators will take on the role of principal in the Westlake City School District for the 2017-2018 school year.
Amanda Musselman, principal at Midview East Intermediate School in Grafton, will assume the principal’s position at Lee Burneson Middle School this fall. Interim LBMS Principal Beth Dagostino will take over the role of principal at Holly Lane Elementary School.
The two were chosen from a pool of 79 applicants, with eight candidates coming in for interviews and four finalists making public presentations. The interview process included internal interviews and a public interview with questions from parents and staff. All of this feedback was considered in making the final decision.
Musselman assumed the role of principal at Midview East Intermediate School in 2016 after serving two years as assistant principal at Midview Middle School. Prior to her time in Midview, Musselman spent six years as a 7-12 math teacher with the Berea-Midpark City School District. She also served as mathematics department chair for grades 7-9 in Berea.
Musselman – originally from North Olmsted – is an eight-year resident of Westlake with her husband, Jansen, and said she looks forward to working in a district where she is personally and professionally vested.
“There is something about being able to serve the kids in my own community,” Musselman said, adding that she believes in working collaboratively with students, staff and parents for success.
She earned her undergraduate degree in mathematics with a minor in Adolescent/Young Adult Education from Baldwin Wallace University. She earned a graduate degree in Educational Administration and her principal license for grades 4-12 from Cleveland State University.
Dagostino has been with the Westlake Schools for two years. She came to LBMS as assistant principal, moving into the interim principal position when former Principal Paul Wilson was named Westlake High School principal. She will replace retiring Holly Lane Principal Mimi Verdone.
Prior to Westlake, Dagostino was a grade 1-3 teacher at Hillcrest Elementary School in the Revere Local Schools for 16 years. She also worked for the Solon City Schools as a fifth-grade teacher at Orchard Middle School for two years, and as an intervention specialist for third grade and a special education tutor at D.E. Lewis Elementary School.
“It will be difficult to leave the Burneson family. I truly enjoyed the opportunity to work with a very talented and supportive staff, as well as our amazing students and families,” Dagostino said. “With the move to Holly Lane, I will be returning to my elementary roots. I look forward to establishing a relationship with the Holly Lane community and being able to contribute to an exciting future that includes a move to a new elementary campus.”
Dagostino earned her undergraduate degree in education, a graduate degree in reading and a PK-9 administrative license from Ashland University. She is a doctoral candidate for a degree in teacher leadership from Concordia University of Chicago. Dagostino holds certificates in reading validation (K-12) and special education (K-12).
Dagostino lives in Rocky River with her husband, Matthew, and their two children.
“Our final four candidates were really strong. We are very fortunate and excited to be adding both Amanda and Beth to our administrative team in Westlake,” said Superintendent Scott Goggin. “We believe we are keeping our top two picks. They are making our district stronger through their leadership.”