Submitted by the Bedford School Department
At Superintendent Jon Sills’s’ recommendation, the Bedford School Committee last night formally appointed MaryLou Sallee as the Bedford Public Schoools’ new assistant superintendent beginning July 1. Mrs. Sallee, presently the English Language Arts Program Administrator, grades 6-12, in the Bedford Public Schools, applied earlier this fall for the impending vacancy. As an exceptionally strong internal candidate, Mrs. Sallee was the single interviewee before a committee composed of school committee members, administrators, teachers and parents. After a subsequent public interview two weeks ago before the School Committee, and an interim period open for public comment, Mrs. Sallee was appointed on Tuesday evening.
According to Superintendent Sills, “MaryLou’s appointment will be a huge plus for a district that values authentic, caring, and knowledgeable leadership- leadership that listens well, that puts kids first, and that truly understands and appreciates the work that teachers do on a daily basis. MaryLou is just such a person. She is, as well, a wonderful communicator and an incredibly hardworking practitioner whose graceful, earnest interactions have consistently brought out the best in those around her. She is a big picture thinker who actively attends to details and to the practical steps needed to make good ideas a reality.”
Mrs. Sallee came to Bedford six years ago from Weston High School where she taught Advanced Placement English, and quickly won the respect of her JGMS and BHS colleagues. In Bedford, while providing exemplary leadership to the English department, she taught the Humanities course to high achieving seniors and the ninth grade English course to struggling freshman learners. Her loving embrace of all students, accompanied by high expectations for each individual child, reflect the bedrock values that inform her leadership. Mrs. Sallee’s profound understanding of teaching and learning extends beyond the secondary level English Language Arts curriculum, and provides a firm foundation for her upcoming work with elementary educators despite her lack of direct experience with younger learners.
With a strong K-12 vision, she will continue to guide the important work that our curriculum specialists have engaged in under interim assistant superintendent Claire Jackson’s leadership, during these past several years — articulating and sequencing curricula. She will work closely with our principals, identifying and addressing achievement gaps, and with the entire staff, strengthening those practices that promote an appreciation of diversity.
By making this decision early in the year, the district has enabled Mrs. Sallee to use the next six months in working closely with Dr. Jackson, visiting the four schools, and meeting with principals and teachers to broaden her knowledge base in preparation for her new position.
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