Santamaria to 'Slide' Out DHS Doors in June

A corkboard of pictures, newspaper clippings and famous quotations to the left of his desk is just about full with each corner occupied by a memento of 35 years in the Dedham school system.

And with very little room left to hang the next artifact, principal Jake Santamaria will retire at the end of the school year.

Santamaria formally announced his retirement at a School Committee meeting last week with congratulations from the committee and superintendent June Doe. Santamaria said on many occasions that it was just time after 35 years to try his hand at something different.

“I had been thinking about it for awhile, my wife and I,” he said. “It’s time to move on. I want to try some other things, other career opportunities.”

The next part of the 57-year-old Santamaria’s professional career won’t be in secondary education, but he said he has his eye on higher education.

“I have a lot of interest in higher education […] I’ve always thought about some capacity in athletics at the college level,” he said. “But nothing definite yet. We’ll see what comes along.”

Rising up the ranks from health teacher to athletic director to assistant principal and finally to principal in 2008, Santamaria left his mark on Dedham High School in many ways.

He helped give rise to lacrosse, girls hockey and girls winter track, dealt with disciplinary issues at the school and helped form policies to make student safety a priority.

“To me that is the most important thing we can do,” the principal said. “The kids know this is a place where they can come and learn, make friends and be safe.”

But a major accomplishment in the corner office of DHS remains one of the most unique – a continuation of programs, teacher staffing and class size despite tight economic times and budget constraints.

“As a principal of a building, that’s very important because we are able to continually offer the courses we want,” he said. “[We’re] very fortunate in that respect. We’ve accomplished some great things over the past few years that I know will continue.”

The tall, presence-commanding principal speaks humbly about his career, accomplishments and his retirement – several times he said he wasn’t comfortable talking about himself – but after affecting thousands of lives that marched through the halls, he said he understood the reasoning for the attention.

Santamaria put three kids through Dedham High School – the youngest graduated in 2008 – and set down permanent roots in Dedham in the home he grew up in and he doesn’t plan to move out.

“When you live in the community, those ties really become strong,” Santamaria said. “That’s why it is going to be difficult after so many years.”

After all, he said he wants to see the athletic complex construction completed and watch the Marauder teams he once coached and managed play in a worthy facility.

“The athletic complex is so near to my heart. So I’m excited about that next fall,” he said.

In his years, Santamaria coached Dedham boys in tennis, soccer and, most recently from 2002-2006, lacrosse.

Although he looks to the future, Santamaria said he knows plenty of work remains with MCAS testing fast approaching this spring – and he’ll eagerly follow the results when they are released in September.

“I’m going to be very interested to see how our kids do with MCAS because of the programs we instituted back in the fall […] I want to and I know our kids will continue to improve and strive to do their best. ,” he said.

Remembering the successes of his career and of the school, Santamaria earnestly placed credit on those that surround him on Whiting Avenue.

“I have accomplished nothing by myself. With the support of the students, my colleagues, staff, central administration – it’s been such a team effort. I work with some great, great people. That’s what made it so enjoyable,” he said.