This school year, it’s not just fifth graders moving on to the middle school.

Former Wareham elementary school Vice Principal Sara Russo is moving up with her students, taking on a new role as the Wareham Middle School principal. 

“I was the vice principal at the elementary school for nine years, so I think it gave me incredible strength and knowledge of our community and our families,” Russo said. "I know our families and our children.” 

Russo brings a unique aspect to her first year with her familiarity to the district. 

“I had children run into me and they told me how excited they were to know that I was coming to the middle school with them,” she said. “It put their mind at ease, because it is a transition for students.” 

Her educational career began in Florida with a bachelors degree in elementary education.

“I was a classroom teacher for years. I became a district curriculum specialist, where I worked for the eighth largest school district in the nation,” she said. ”At that time I had 154 schools that I serviced for science and math.” 

Climbing her way from being a teacher, she became the dean of students at a large middle school in Florida, and then assistant principal. From there, she obtained a masters degree in educational leadership and education at George Washington University.

In 2016, Russo moved up the coast to Wareham and worked at the Decas Elementary School. She went on to graduate from Liberty University with her doctorate in curriculum and instruction.

She said she wanted to be able to give back to the Wareham community. 

“[My kids] all graduated from Wareham High School,” she said. “To me, this is home and this is my family. I really take it to heart.”

Although, her dedication for education could be genetic.

Russo comes from a family of educators, as her great grandmother taught in a one-room schoolhouse. Students can find a photo of her great grandmother alongside a desk from that school in Russo’s new office.

In each position she holds, she said she's “Always learning." She said she tries to personalize learning for each student. 

“It’s important to find out their interests and then build on that, because that’s what makes learning exciting,” she said.