John A. Poce Named Principal at Junior High School North-November 11, 1982

24-Year Veteran of Norwood Schools Unanimously Appointed to Succeed James R. Savage

NORWOOD — John A. Poce, who served as vice principal at Junior High School North for 13 years, was named principal of the school on Wednesday night. The Norwood School Committee voted unanimously to appoint Poce—the sole candidate for the post—to succeed James R. Savage, who stepped up two months ago to become superintendent of schools.

Poce, 50, has served as acting principal since Savage’s promotion. The principal position carries a salary of slightly more than $37,000. Savage and Poce had operated as the two-man administrative leadership team at Junior High North since the facility first opened its doors in 1969. The school committee agreed to post the vacant vice principal position across the district; in the interim, teacher Michael C. Loughran will fill the vice principal role.

Distinguished Athletic Career and Deep Local Roots

A Norwood native, Poce began his 24-year educator career in the Norwood Public Schools after graduating from local classrooms:

• Teaching & Guidance: Taught history for three years at the original junior high school (later known as the Aaron Guild School) and three years at Norwood High School. He subsequently served as a high school guidance counselor for five years before joining Savage at Junior High North in 1969.
• Local Athletics: Starred as captain of the baseball team and played basketball at Norwood High School.
• Collegiate Sports: Played baseball at Boston University alongside legendary multi-sport star Harry Agganis, the Boston Red Sox standout whose promising career was tragically cut short when he died of a blood clot in his 20s.

Poce resides at 268 Vernon Street with his wife, Jean (Charron) Poce. The couple has four children.

Archival Note: This article has been dynamically reconstructed from the original public record print archives of the Patriot Ledger