Superintendent's Report to SC 2.13.19

Superintendent’s Report to the School Committee

February 13, 2019

PFLAG - Greater Boston Parents, Families & Friends of Lesbians and Gays

• Staff training - January 24th Professional Development Day
• Community Forum - Wednesday, February 6th @ 6:30 pm at SHS in the Auditorium. Approximately 20 people in attendance including a few children. Three guest speakers were phenomenal.

Director of Teaching & Learning (formerly Director of Curriculum & Instruction)

• Position posted January 3, 2019
• Posting closed this January 24th
• A total of 39 applicants
• Interview Committee: Julie DiLillo (HR Director), Lytania Mackey (Director of Digital Learning), Martha Raymond (Director of Student Services)
• Approximately, 10 candidates - phone screenings still happening
• First Round of Interviews: February 28th & March 4th

National Blue Ribbon Award Celebration & Reception

• Thursday, February 7th.
•  Congratulations and a big thank you to the high school team of students and faculty that put this celebration together.
• A proud moment for the district and the community

REACH Arts Open House/Tea

• Took place Thursday, January 31st from 3 pm - 5 p
• Great event to see the spaces available

Kindergarten Information Night

• Took place on Tuesday, January 29th

• Very well attended

• A reminder that Kindergarten Registration is in-person, in the Superintendent’s Conference Room at the Middle School on Monday & Tuesday, March 18th & 19th from 7:30 am - 11:30 am

Stanley School - New Principal

• I am naming the Hadley School interim principal Mrs. Kathleen Huntley as the next permanent Stanley School principal. 
• This appointment will take effect on March 18. 
• Last October when we were interviewing for Ms. Ilana Bebchick’s maternity leave we formed an interview committee with myself and the following members: Mrs. Jennifer Hunt – Clarke School Principal, Ms. Ilana Bebchick – Hadley School Principal, Mrs. Julie DeLillo – Director of Human Resources, Mrs. Martha Raymond – Director of Student Services, Mrs. Carin Marshall – School Committee Member
• At the conclusion of the interview process, Mrs. Huntley was unanimously appointed the interim principal for Ms. Bebchick’s leave. 
• In essence, Mrs. Huntley has been interviewing for the Stanley School principal position for the last 3-months, the longest interview I have ever conducted.
• Prior to coming to Swampscott, Kathleen served as principal at the Abbot School, a grade 3-5 school in Westford, from 2015-18. Prior to that, she was assistant principal at the Abbot and Nabnasset schools, grades K-2 from 2013-18. Before becoming an administrator, she taught science in at all levels, including as an adjunct professor at Merrimack College.
•  Ms. Bebchick is scheduled to return from maternity leave on March 4. Mrs. Huntley will work at both Hadley and Stanley during the week of March 4 and take over Stanley as of March 18. 
• I am truly thrilled to have someone with Kathleen’s level of experience leading Stanley School.