New Principal Settles Into AHS

Articles, Community, Faculty
October 4, 2024
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By Anya Gorovits
STAFF WRITER

D’Andrea first came to AHS last spring, and after applying for the position of principal and being hired, he spent several months adjusting to the school over the summer. Now, just over a month into school, D’Andrea has already left many positive impressions and made several beneficial changes. “I really like our new principal so far,” said sophomore Anika Abbot.

D’Andrea decided to apply to AHS and came for an interview with students, teachers, parents, and office staff last April. He was offered the position after his finalist interview and moved to Andover in June. D’Andrea loves the town so far, and especially how committed Andover is to its public schools.

STAFF PHOTO / Anya Gorovits
Principal D’Andrea gets to know senior John Nies during lunch

“There is so much community support for Andover public schools in general…and that’s not common.” Massachusetts is also the coldest place D’Andrea has ever lived in, “I’m interested [and] nervous,” he said, interested about our winter sports teams but nervous for our snowy winters.

D’Andrea has already made two important changes that are strongly appreciated around the school. Math teacher Krista Hibino, along with most students, finds the extended passing period time very helpful. Another vital change is the loss of the tardy line, letting students get to class faster. “I feel like a lot of time was wasted in just standing in that line,” said Abbot.

D’Andrea has ambitious goals as principal. He’s already working on learning the names of all AHS staff and students, something he’s done at every school he’s worked at. D’Andrea also wants to make every AHS student feel like a part of the Andover community, no matter what activities they are a part of. D’Andrea spends a lot of time working on this by talking to and getting to know students during lunch and before school. ”I think it’s sweet that he greets everyone in the morning,” said Abbot. He also comes to sports games, both at home and away, posting clips of them on his Instagram page.

D’Andrea’s Instagram page is a part of his main goal of communication. He finds it very important to get word out in a school as big as Andover. So, he’s started leaving automated messages for parents on Sundays and will continue doing so all year long. Hibino added, ”I’ve really enjoyed working with him, and I appreciate that he’s very communicative.”

D’Andrea has enjoyed his time at AHS so far and is looking forward to getting to know the students, school, and town better. “Everybody’s been so friendly. It really seems like an incredible place,” he commented.

Andoverview

EDITORIAL: Where is the Line Between Inspiration and Cheating?

March 30, 2026

At ANDOVERVIEW, we believe academic dishonesty is a notable issue. Students are often scared to ask teachers for help, don’t have time to complete the work, or are simply lazy, so they ask AI to do the work for them.

We do not exclude ourselves from this phenomenon. To our knowledge, ANDOVERVIEW has never allowed AI to change the truths that we report, but we know for certain that there have been drafts put forward by students for publication in the past years that have relied on AI. We acknowledge that the problem with AI usage is schoolwide (in fact, nationwide); now, as part of the student body, we want to raise awareness and help solve this problem.

Cheating causes an uneven playing field between those who use AI or cheat in any way, and those who do their work honestly. Academic dishonesty also hinders teachers’ ability to understand how much their students truly retain what is being taught.

We at ANDOVERVIEW believe that within each class at AHS, teachers need to provide a defined line between what constitutes cheating and learning.

Much of cheating today revolves around AI, and many teachers seem to have a different policy regarding it. Students must figure out which rules apply where. Academic integrity in one classroom may be considered a violation in another. Although a schoolwide policy is existent, it is lengthy while simultaneously being unclear at times. More specificity is necessary within the policy to ensure that coursework isn’t a stressful guessing game for students.

So, what are students to do? At ANDOVERVIEW we believe students who use sources for ideas—not as a replacement for their own work and effort—need a solid line to tell them if what they are doing is considered academic dishonesty. We need a policy, we need a line, and most importantly we need consistency.

Until that consistent line is drawn, students must recognize that if, in their eyes, an action comes anywhere near that blurry boundary, they should stop. Reflect on if it is truly worth it risking your reputation and potentially your future. If not, we urge you to choose a different path. Academic integrity starts with each individual student.

Articles

Steve Zrike Appointed MA Secretary of Education

February 12, 2026

Avery Slaughter || ONLINE EDITOR

Steve Zrike was appointed Massachusetts Secretary of Education by Governor Maura Healey on February 10. He will assume the position on February 13.

Zrike will succeed Patrick Tutwiler in the role. As Secretary of Education, Zrike will oversee the Executive Office of Education, which is responsible for managing pre-elementary, K-12 and higher education across the state.

“My responsibility is to the children of the Commonwealth,” Zrike said. “I just want to make sure that that is clear–that at the end of the day, the job is about improving the student experience in our public institutions across Massachusetts.”

Zrike is currently the superintendent of Salem Public Schools. Previously, he also served as superintendent of both Holyoke and Wakefield. He has held various other positions in school districts across Massachusetts.

“I feel like I’ve had a lot of experiences in a lot of different types of communities,” Zrike said. “I’m going to rely on the different relationships and different experiences I’ve had across all those places. Of course, I have a lot to learn, and I’m excited to get started with better understanding the many different types of education programs that exist across Massachusetts.”

An Andover resident, Zrike began his career in education as a fifth grade teacher in Andover Public Schools. Prior to this, he received education at Dartmouth College and attended the Harvard Graduate School of Education.

“Andover was an amazing place for me to start my career,” Zrike said. “I learned a lot from the people that I worked with. I’ve carried that experience with me since.”

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New Principal Settles Into AHS

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