Creation of the Search Committee
In December 2022, the Westwood School Committee began the process of hiring a new Superintendent.
Consultant:
In January 2023, the School Committee engaged James Hardy, Field Director for the Massachusetts Association of School Committees (MASC), to serve as an independent consultant to assist with the recruiting process. Mr. Hardy has been a member of the MASC staff for over twenty-five years and has been lead consultant on more than five dozen superintendent searches.
Search Committee:
In communications to both District parents/guardians and District faculty and staff, the School Committee sought out community representatives to serve on the Superintendent Search Committee, which would screen applications, conduct initial interviews, and recommend several candidates to the School Committee as finalists. The members of the Search Committee are as follows:
Tony Mullin, Co-Chair -- Member, School Committee
Maya Plotkin, Co-Chair -- Member, School Committee
Rob Gotti -- Westwood Select Board
Lateefah Franck -- Director of Equity, Integration & Community Partnerships
Amy Davenport -- Principal, Westwood High School
Kristen Evans -- Principal, Sheehan School
Tien-lih Chen -- Teacher, Deerfield School
Justyne Collier - Teacher, Thurston Middle School
Alison Donahue -- Teacher, Westwood High School
Emily Kessel -- Teacher, Hanlon School
Orla Averill -- Parent
Theresa Laham -- Parent
Brian Regan -- Parent
Liz Volpe -- Parent
Riley Harrington -- WHS Student
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2023 Timeline
March 1 -- Applications due
Week of March 6 -- Semi Finalists selected
Week of March 13 -- Semi Finalist interviews/finalists selected by Search Committee
Week of March 20 -- Finalist interviews with School Committee and community site visits
Week of March 27 -- New superintendent selected
July 1 -- Start date for new superintendent
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Communications
2023-3-24 Superintendent Search Committee Update
2023-3-22 Superintendent Search Committee Update
2023-3-20 Superintendent Search Committee Update
2023-1-11 Superintendent Search Committee Update
2022-12-19 Superintendent Search Committee Update
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Meeting Postings
2023-3-7 Meeting (Minutes)
2023-3-13 Meeting (Minutes)
2023-3-14 Meeting (Minutes)
2023-3-15 Meeting (Minutes)
2023-3-16 Meeting (Minutes)
2023-3-17 Meeting (if needed) (Minutes)
2023-3-22 Interview
2023-3-23 Interview
2023-3-24 Interview
2023-3-27 Deliberation : Link to livestream
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Finalists
Ian P. Kelly, Ed.D., Interim Superintendent, Dedham Public Schools
Rebecca H. Kidwell, Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum, Instruction, Assessment, & Professional Development, Rockland Public Schools
Timothy P. Piwowar, Superintendent, Billerica Public Schools
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Community Forum Live Streams
Timothy Piwowar
Rebecca Kidwell
Ian Kelly
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Candidate Interviews with School Committee
Ian Kelly
Rebecca Kidwell
Timothy Piwowar
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Questions?
If you have any questions, please reach out to Harley Pease, Executive Assistant to the Superintendent at hpease@westwood.k12.ma.us .
