Job criteria, screening committee set for superintendent search

MIDDLEBORO — The Middleboro School Committee knows what they’re looking for in a new superintendent and who will be looking for it.

The School Committee announced 12 of the 13 members of the screening committee for the district’s permanent superintendent search at its Oct. 22 meeting. It also approved a set of criteria to include with the job posting based on feedback from public surveys and focus groups.

The members of the screening committee are School Committee Chair Susan Pennini and member Kim Redlon, Humanities Coordinator Lori Leblanc, Burkland Elementary School Principal Shammah Daniels, Middleboro Director of Planning and Community Development Leeann Bradley, community member Lauren Haugh, parents Treasure Gonzalez and Amanda Bumin, Middleboro Education Association Union Executive Board member Alexis Burrows, teacher Nicole Holmes, school counselor Megan Moriarty and speech language pathologist Kate Hetu from Nichols Middle School. 

A student representative will be named at a later date.

Pennini said that the School Committee wanted a diversity of perspectives on the screening committee.

She said that 22 people applied, although no teachers or staff from Middleboro High School applied.

“We were disappointed that we didn’t see anyone from the high school,” Pennini said.

The criteria for the superintendent job posting described the ideal candidate as a “dynamic, experienced and highly visible education leader with a strong background in public school administration, sound financial judgment and a demonstrated commitment to transparent education.”

The School Committee used feedback from 340 public survey responses and focus groups of students, staff, caregivers and community members. Through those responses, the school committee identified three desired traits in a superintendent: transparency and trust building, financial management skills and a student-centered approach to education.

Pennini said the candidates should have experience in a districtwide or central office position. In the proposed job posting language, this experience was required.

“There are times when you’re in a good place and someone that is taking the next big jump forward is a good idea. Given our circumstances, having someone that has had experience as a superintendent, or at least in the central office as an assistant superintendent, is what we are saying is required,” Pennini said.

School Committee members Christopher Benson and Krysten Phillips said they should change the language from “required” to “preferred” to allow for as many applicants as possible. “I don’t want to stop anyone from applying,” Benson said.

Phillips said the screening committee would weed out candidates that don’t meet the qualifications.

The salary for the new superintendent would be between $205,000 and $220,000.

The job posting will be published before the end of the month. The screening committee will then begin interviewing semifinalists in November. The finalists will be announced on Dec. 3. The School Committee will then interview finalists and appoint a new superintendent to start on July 1, 2027.