Liz Garden Named Thomas C. Passios MSAA Elementary School Principal of the Year

Liz Garden, Principal of Henry P. Clough Elementary School in Mendon-Upton Regional School District, has been named the 2026 Thomas C. Passios MSAA Elementary School Principal of the Year. She has served the Clough Elementary School community with dedication and distinction for the past four years. Liz earned her Master’s degree in Child Development from Wheelock College and holds a CAGS in Educational Leadership and Management from Fitchburg University.

Prior to her current role, Liz was the Principal of the Leroy E. Mayo Elementary School in Holden, MA for four years, where she helped lead her community through the pandemic. She also served as the Principal of Florence Roche Elementary in Groton, MA for seven years. Her career in school administration started in Leominster where she served as the Assistant Principal of the Early Childhood Program.

An administrator and educational consultant provided the following statements in Liz’s Principal of the Year application:

“Liz is a visionary leader and extraordinary culture-builder who has made Clough a better place for students and staff, and whose influence extends far beyond the walls of her school. She is an advocate for student-centered education, is passionate about professional learning, and makes the maintenance of positive professional culture a cornerstone of her work.

Regardless of how much time has passed, in every conversation I have had with Liz, it is clear she believes unequivocally that high quality teaching and learning can change the trajectory for children. She believes that the right school community can create conditions of nurture for all learners, students, and adults alike, and she works tirelessly to build those conditions.”

Liz grew up in Ohio and then her family moved to Virginia when she was in middle school. She began her teaching career in Maryland and Virginia. In 2000, she moved to Massachusetts and worked at the Boston Higashi School as a language and communication teacher for students with autism. For five years before she became a school leader, she taught 2nd grade at Armstrong Elementary in Westborough.

Liz and her husband Dave live in Shrewsbury where their two children, Emerson and Cayce, attend Sherwood Middle School. In May, Liz will graduate from Bay Path with an MFA in creative nonfiction writing. When she's not leading her school community or working on writing her thesis, Liz loves listening to her musician husband sing, going on fun adventures with her family, baking, and reading as many books as she can!