In a series of deliberations on February 13 and 16, 2023, the Somerville School Committee voted to reopen the superintendent application process. The material below is the result of the initial, unsuccessful phase of the search for a new Superintendent. Please visit the Superintendent Search page for information about the current process.

 

Statement from School Committee Chair Andre Green, Monday, 2/23/2023

“During tonight’s regular meeting the School Committee will be deliberating on next steps in the Somerville Public Schools’ Superintendent Search process. As you know, last week we hosted three finalist candidates and conducted formal, public interviews as part of the final step in the search process. Unfortunately, just this morning Dr. Marisa Mendonsa decided that for personal reasons she is removing her name from our candidate pool. The School Committee will deliberate tonight and also on Wednesday, if needed, on our next steps.

Over the last week we have heard from SPS families, administrators, educators, and staff with their opinions and hopes for our deliberations, all of which will play a role in informing our next steps in this process. Tonight’s meeting will be in person at City Hall with the option to watch live on EdTV or to join remotely for interpretation via Zoom. We thank each of the candidates and members of the SPS community for their participation thus far and we wish Dr. Mendonsa the very best.”

 

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. This candidate withdrew from the process on February 23, 2023
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

 
Week of February 6 (Completed)
Watch the interviews below:
School Committee takes Feedback about Finalists from Community.
  February 6 through February 13 (Completed)
School Committee Negotiations with Selected Finalist

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