This fall, with the hiring of Dr. Lori Wiggins, the Henderson Inclusion School joined the list of many Boston Public Schools welcoming a new school leader for the 2024-2025 academic year.

A native of Mystic, Connecticut, Wiggins has more than 20 years of experience as an educator and school leader. While most of her career has been spent in Virginia, this summer she decided it was time to return to New England.

“What brings me here is the desire to move closer to home. In job searching, I looked in Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island. BPS picked me and I said yes,” Wiggins told The Reporter.

She added, “I feel humbled and excited that the Henderson governing board invited me to be a part of this great community. BPS is moving toward having more inclusive classrooms district wide. To be principal at the Henderson, which has been doing inclusion for at least 30 years is a great honor and privilege.”

Wiggins brings a list of accolades and years of experience to the role. She holds a BA in Spanish Language Teacher Education from Messiah University in Pennsylvania, a master’s degree in Education Administration and Supervision from California State University, Northridge, and a doctorate in Education from West Virginia University.

She worked as the assistant director and executive director of the West Virginia Department of Education from 2007 to 2012. Most recently, she was the principal at Arlington Community High School in Arlington, VA, wrapping up over a decade of work in Arlington’s public schools.

She is excited to bring her skills to Dorchester this fall and hopes to “protect” and “shelter” the mission of inclusivity at the Henderson School, where students who have disabilities learn in general education classrooms with their nondisabled peers.

“I think we have an opportunity to see what inclusion looks like 30 years later,” said Wiggins. “What are the ways we modernize, what are the shifts that we make but still hold true to the core value of this being a space where all children are welcomed, seen, valued, and educated in a way that meets their needs?”

“That part doesn’t change,” she added. “The how might, but our focus on what we do doesn’t.”

With every Each K-12 classroom in the Henderson teaching students from various ethnic, linguistic, and ability backgrounds, Wiggins believes her own identity makes her qualified for the job.

“As a person of color and a diverse individual, I bring the perspective of knowing what it could feel like not to feel included in a space and will bring that level of awareness into the work I do in the community and the culture we want to foster,” said Wiggins, who also speaks Spanish. “I think being aware of ethnic diversities is an opportunity to be sensitive about having implicit ableism biases.”

Although the Henderson has faced some challenges over the past few years, she is confident that the school can once again become a model inclusion school for the nation.

“I think there’s an element of being a beacon, this is the way the world can be. All people should be valued, seen, and have access,” Wiggins said.

To reach this goal she hopes to have a school year of “cohesion, clarity, and community.” She wants to unite the upper and lower campuses and continue to create a vibrant school community while keeping the Henderson mission clear.
“As the principal the whole school is your classroom. You can make great things happen for kids, for families, for the adults in the building, and I’m just very excited to bring my experience and passion for being a principal to this community.”

Five other school leaders will be coming to Dorchester this year, including another new head of school, Dr. Artis Street, who will fill the position at the Albert Holland School of Technology.

Michael McGean will be interim principal at the King K-6 School while Harry Gilliam will hold the same title at the Murphy K-8 School.

Additionally, Carlitta Camillo has been named this year’s principal at Lee Academy Pilot School and Nikki Wells has been hired to lead the Russell Elementary School.