Superintendent Search Graphic

The Somerville School Committee is hiring a new superintendent to lead Somerville Public Schools. The position starts in the 2023-2024 school year.

IMMEDIATE

Candidate Meetings with Community and Interview Schedule

  • Monday, February 6, 2023: Jannell D. Pearson-Campbell
  • Tuesday, February 7, 2023: Kevin McCaskill
  • Wednesday, February 8, 2023: Marisa Mendonsa 

Each candidate will participate in a Community Meeting and Interview

  • 4:30-5:15 p.m. Community Meeting: In-person Meeting with Community Members at City Hall Chambers, or watch the broadcast on City Cable TV
  • 7:00-9:00 p.m. Interview: In-person Public School Committee Interview at City Hall Chambers, or watch the broadcast on City Cable TV (with interpretation on Zoom, Meeting ID: 863 8166 0184, Password: SPSSC23)

Community Feedback

Community members, parents, guardians, and staff who meet candidates or watch the interviews are encouraged to provide their feedback: Candidate Feedback Form.

Superintendent Candidate Finalists Biographies

Jannell D. Pearson-Campbell is currently the Interim Superintendent in Northampton. Dr. Pearson-Campbell’s career has included work as a science teacher and as a special educator in Framingham and Boston. She then took administrative posts as Assistant Principal for STEM and as principal at Hanover’s Middle School. Dr. Pearson-Campbell also served as a Turnaround Principal in New Bedford before going to Waltham as the Assistant Director of Special Education and to the Old Rochester Regional district as Assistant Superintendent. Dr. Pearson-Campbell, who resides in Easton, has a BS in Health Information Management from Florida A&M University, an MEd from UMass Boston, a CSGs with a specialty in Special Education Administration from Bridgewater State University, and an EdD in Educational Leadership from UMass Lowell. (SPS Site Visit & Interview: Monday, February 6th)

Kevin McCaskill is currently the Assistant Superintendent of Secondary Schools, Boston Public Schools. McCaskill began his career as a teacher in Springfield in 1988, rising to become Principal of Putnam Vocational High School for six years. McCaskill subsequently was Director of Secondary Schools and Operations in Hartford for five years. Following his role in Hartford, he began working with Boston Public Schools where he served as Executive Director of Madison Park Vocational High School and, in 2021, as Assistant Superintendent in the office of secondary schools. McCaskill is currently also involved as the central office support administrator at one of Boston’s pilot schools. McCaskill, who resides in Boston, earned a BA in Mathematics at Western New England College and an Med from Westfield State College. In addition, he earned an advanced credential as Education Specialist-Educational Administration from UMass Amherst. (SPS Site Visit & Interview: Tuesday, February 7th)

Marisa Mendonsa is the Deputy Superintendent of the Pittsfield Public Schools. Prior to taking the position in 2021, Mendonsa spent six years as a principal at Mohawk Trail Regional High School and three years at the Duggan Middle School in Springfield, serving as Assistant Principal and Principal. Born and raised in Massachusetts, Mendonsa’s career began as a teacher in North Carolina. In Massachusetts, she has worked in the Amherst, Northborough, and Springfield school districts. Mendonsa earned a BS in History from Springfield College, an MEd and CAGS at UMass Amherst, and an EdD in Education Policy and Leadership at American University in Washington, DC. (SPS Site Visit & Interview: Wednesday, February 8th) 

 

Timeline

TASK ANTICIPATED DATE
Orientation Meeting with Working Group: Process & Timeline Wednesday, November 2, 2022
Vacancy Notice Posted:
Friday, November 4, 2022,
updated November 29, 2022
Request for 6 Volunteer Member Screening Committee:
Application Form. (Application period closed Wednesday, November 16, 2022)
Friday, November 4, 2022 (Completed)

Selection of Screening Committee Members by School Committee

Selected Members:

  • Emily Ackman, Chair (School Committee member, Healey School parent)
  • Ilana Krepchin (School Committee member, current high school parent and former Argenziano School parent)
  • Andre Green (School Committee Chair, Healey School parent)
  • Felix Caraballo (Principal, Capuano ECC)
  • Isabel Barros (Interim Assistant Principal, WSNS)
  • Charles Jabour (Drama Teacher, SHS)
  • Angelique Santomauro (Dean of Students, Capuano ECC, Argenziano School parent)
  • Uma Murugan (President, Winter Hill Community Innovation School PTA)
  • Dennis Sullivan (former School Committee member, former City Councilor, Brown School parent)

Learn more in the Press Release: 12/01/2022 SPS Superintendent Search Officially Underway; Community Member Input Sought 

 Week of November 20, 2022 (Completed)
Public Listening Sessions (Individual SC Members Teachers/Staff, Administrators, Parents, Town Officials, and Community Members)  November 17, 21, 22 & 30 December 1, 5, 6, 7, 8, 13, 14, 15 (Completed)
On-line Community Survey in English, Spanish, Portuguese, Haitian Creole. 

Results for Superintendent Search Community Survey. This data was used to inform the Screening Committee as they wrote the candidate profile. 

Superintendent Candidate Profile, Based on Summary Report of Focus Groups and On-Line Survey

 Closes December 23, 2022 (Completed)
Orientation Meeting – Screening Committee
* Review Confidential Process
* Finalize Meeting and Interview Dates
* Discuss possible interview questions
 Monday, December 5, 2022 (Completed)
Candidate Profile Received by School Committee Week of December 19, 2022 (Completed)
Vacancy Application Deadline Week of January 8, 2023 (Completed)
Screening Committee Confidential Application Review January 9 – 13, 2023 (Completed)
Initial Meeting of Screening Committee Tuesday, January 17, 2023 (Completed)
Initial Candidate Interviews by Screening Committee  (Completed)
Screening Committee Identifies Candidates  (Completed)
Reference Checking  Ongoing. Read MASC procedure memo here.
Somerville Superintendent Screening Subcommittee announces finalists. Special School Committee meeting held on Zoom. Read More.
Finalists Announcement: Read More.
Kevin McCaskill, Assistant Superintendent of Secondary Schools, Boston Public Schools.
Marisa Mendonsa, Deputy Superintendent of the Pittsfield Public Schools. 
Jannell D. Pearson-Campbell, Interim Superintendent in Northampton. 
 
Monday, January 30, at 6:00 p.m.
School Committee hosts site visits and interviews with School Committee

Planned Schedule for each visit:

  • 9:00-9:55 a.m.: Candidate arrival at Central Office. Meet and greet with Central Office administrators 
  • 10:00-10:45 a.m.: K-8 School Tour and Visit. Multilingual Learner Education Meeting
  • 11:00am-11:45 a.m.: K-8 School Tour and Visit. Special Education Meeting
  • 12:00-1:00 p.m.: Lunch with the Superintendent and Mayor
  • 1:00-2:00 p.m.: Somerville High School and Next Wave and Full Circle Tour and Visit
  • 2:00-2:30 p.m.: Break
  • 2:30-3:15 p.m.: Meeting with all Principals
  • 3:30-4:15 p.m.: Meeting with all interested Educators, School Staff, and Administrators in SHS, Lower Cafeteria
  • 4:30-5:15 p.m.: Meeting with Community Members at City Hall Chambers, Broadcast on City Cable TV
  • 5:30-6:45 p.m.: Dinner with School Committee
  • 7:00-9:00 p.m.: Public School Committee Interview at City Hall Chambers, Broadcast on City Cable TV (with interpretation on Zoom)
Monday, February 6, 2023:
Pearson-Campbell
 
 
 
Tuesday, February 7, 2023:
McCaskill
 
 
 
Wednesday, February 8, 2023:
Mendonsa 
 
School Committee Negotiations with Selected Finalist TBD

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