New superintendent hopes to bring stability to Middleboro schools

MIDDLEBORO -- Not unlike many big-name musical acts, Middleboro’s new interim superintendent of schools has embarked on a summer tour.

David Thomson, who began work July 1, calls it the listening tour.

The venture will take him not to large stadiums but to small, one-on-one meetings with town officials, school staff and other community members to listen and learn more about Middleboro.

“I’m learning as much as possible as quickly as possible,’’ he said . “I’m figuring out the district’s strengths and what needs to be improved.’’

Dr. Thomson was the unanimous choice of the School Committee to serve as interim school superintendent for the upcoming school year. He replaces Carolyn Lyons, who took a health-related leave in August 2025 and then officially in March.

Since then, Business and Finance Director Michael Perrone had served until interim prior to Dr. Thomson’s arrival.

Prior to working in Wilmington, where he served as interim superintendent since last July, he was the interim superintendent of schools in Mashpee for a year and superintendent in Norwood for seven years.

In a district that has been without a permanent leader for nearly a year, Dr. Thomson aim to “first and foremost’’ bring stability during the year ahead _ and possibly longer.

The new superintendent said he is interested in serving in Middleboro beyond the interim position.  That decision, he noted, is in the hands of the School Committee but “I would like to think my skill set fits in with what Middleboro needs.’’

He described himself as "very student-focused.'' The goal, he said, is “ensuring kids are getting what they need’’ so they can “leave school with a pathway to where they’re going to go and how they’re going to get there.’’

Today's graduates will step into a “tricky’’ future, he said. The days of working at one job for 30 to 40 years have mostly faded into the past, he said. “That’s not the job market’’ today.

Instead, they will possibly change direction “every three to four years’’ and “continue to learn and develop skills’’ throughout their lifetimes.

For this to happen, students need to develop “perseverance and resilience’’ as well as basic strong skills. And this needs to happen from the early grades upward, he said.

He wants to lead a district that will work to ensure that students are “exposed to future careers and different options’’ and are “well-prepared to meet those challenges.’’

A successful district must be “hiring the right people’’ and making sure they have the “right materials’’ and the “right training’’ to be successful at helping students do their best.

School budgets can be complex, he said, and can “swing in one minute.’’ A sudden need to place a special needs student out of district can cost the district $100,000, an amount higher than many household budgets.

That can be hard for people to understand, he said, and adds to the importance of a “buy-in’’ to the schools’ work, he said.

He hopes the town will understand that “these are Middleboro’s children, not just their parents’ children.’’

Education is demanding but rewarding, he said. He often refers to advice he received from a mentor early in his career.

“If you make a decision that’s in the best interests of the kids, you’re seldom going to be wrong.’’