The Bedford School Committee is scheduled to meet on Wednesday at 4 p.m. to select the next superintendent of schools.
Click this link to see the agenda. Call-in details will be forthcoming, and will be added to this agenda that is posted on the Town’s calendar.
There are now three finalists, as over the weekend Dr. Frank Hackett, superintendent of the Braintree schools, withdrew. Remaining are Philip Conrad, principal of Andover High School; Nan Murphy, former principal of McAuliffe School in Lowell and now a senior administrator in the state education department; and Anthony Parker, principal of Weston High School
Last week the committee interviewed the four finalists individually for up to 90 minutes, asking each candidate the same questions. (The full interviews are available to watch on Bedford TV’s YouTube channel.)
In a weekend email to school families and employees, the School Committee said, “Faculty, staff, student families and community members are invited to provide feedback on the superintendent finalists using the Survey Monkey link https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/KF3CG6V
Please complete the form for one candidate at a time, submitting that evaluation before evaluating another candidate. Please complete the feedback survey by noon on Tuesday, March 24.”
According to JoAnn Santiago, School Committee chair, instructions to access the meeting will be added to the agenda on the town calendar once they are confirmed.
Although the answers during the interviews were similar, School Committee members are digesting differences in style, experience, and presentation inherent in the process. Here are some examples from the three remaining finalists:
- The most important role of a superintendent. All agreed that the responsibilities are global in the community. “A problem-solver, a relationship builder,” said Mrs. Murphy.” “To make sure we have a trusting relationship,” said Mr. Conrad. Mr. Parker’s description was “a cheerleader… at the table with all the other community leaders.”
- Examples of innovation. Mrs. Murphy described her involvement with deeper learning, innovative though “not new program or piece of technology.” Mr. Conrad described the Capstone Project, with 60-80 students involved with original research, including a paper and presentation. Mr. Parker talked about June Academy, a two-week series of seminar courses that students can co-teach with adults
- The relationship between the School Committee and the superintendent. Mrs. Murphy emphasized “a shared understanding of what’s best for kids and that’s the ultimate goal.” Mr. Conrad used the word “balance” and said “we know that if there is a gray area we are going to default to what’s best fr kids” Mr. Parker declared, “The first job of the School Committee c is to let the superintendent do his or her job.” Any disagreements are resolved so that “when we go public we all on the same page.”
The three finalists were emphatic that students should be evaluated more broadly than simply from comparative test data. They also cited experience in and value for co-teaching in the classroom.
Each candidate expounded on his or her approach to hiring teachers and administrators. “My first question in hiring anybody is: Do you like kids and all that they bring?” said Mr. Parker. “The focus should always be to determine how you value relationships with kids,” said Mr. Conrad. Mrs. Murphy responded, “You want to ensure you have a culture set up for individual success.
All the finalists also agreed on the importance of fostering educational opportunities for students preferring options other than a four-year college. Mrs. Murphy said efforts to identify interests should begin as early as middle school. Mr. Conrad said internships are one destination that can broaden students’ options. Mr. Parker said vocational-technical education allows “a whole cohort of kids to shine because they can build stuff.”
The candidates also responded to questions about updating curriculum, the superintendent’s community visibility, and serving the student subgroups that include those with social and emotional issues and learning needs.
Asked about security resource officers, each of the finalists described relationships with these individuals as part of the educational community.
Loading ...
