Arlington Introducing Superintendent Finalists To Families

ARLINGTON, MA — The Arlington Public Schools will hold community meetings Tuesday, Nov. 17 and Wednesday, Nov. 18 over Zoom to give parents and caregivers the opportunity to meet and give feedback on its two finalists for superintendent. Both meetings will start at 7 p.m.

Dr. Victoria Greer has a background in special education, curriculum development and instruction. She arrived in Massachusetts after a lengthy career as a teacher, coordinator and director of instruction for the Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools, becoming an assistant superintendent in Cambridge.

Greer has been recognized for her achievements in strengthening parent and family engagement, improving the integration of students in special education, expanding minority student opportunities in advanced placement coursework and expanding summer learning. Strongly encouraged to pursue the superintendency by Cambridge Superintendent Jeff Young, she was hired as the leader of the Sharon Public Schools in 2017, where she remained until this year.

In Sharon, she worked successfully with the town manager, finance committee, and parents. Her work earned the strong support of Karla Baehr, former Deputy Commissioner of the MA Department of Elementary and Secondary Education Department, and the two school committee chairs with whom she collaborated in Sharon during most of her work. Dr. Greer earned her undergraduate and graduate credentials at Tennessee State University and a doctorate from Capella University. She currently lives in Cambridge.

Dr. Elizabeth Homan is now in her third year as Assistant Superintendent of the Waltham Public Schools, having been the Administrator for EdTech Integration for three years prior to 2018. An Illinois native, she began her career as a middle and high school English Language A1is teacher and High School Speech Team Coach in Indiana before moving to the University of Michigan for a Ph.D. in English and Education.

Homan's first post in Massachusetts was as a digital learning specialist in the Boston Public
Schools. She was recruited to Waltham by former superintendent Drew Echelson and now oversees curriculum and instruction for the school district. She has focused on designing and leading professional learning, data informed leadership, anti-racist strategies, and collaboration with parents and teachers. She designed the equity, racial and cultural bias, and culturally responsive curriculum for the district.

Among Homan's primary achievements was the work to align curriculum and establish professional development to narrow the achievement gap through collaboration and improve outcomes for all students. She was actively involved in leading the district's effort to address COVID-19 and to incorporate student wellness and academic progress during this challenging time. She currently lives in Newton.

Homan will attend the Tuesday meeting, and Greer will attend the Wednesday meeting. The link to the meetings will be sent out closer to the meeting time as well as information on the format and a feedback form. In addition, the full School Committee will interview Greer on Thursday, Nov. 19 and Homan on Friday, Nov. 20 at 6:30 p.m. in public Zoom meetings. The community can also attend those meetings and provide feedback.

Arlington Superintendent Kathleen Bodie announced her intention to retire at the end of the 2020-21 school year in June 2019. A Search Process Subcommittee was formed that conducted focus group interviews during the spring of 2020, and applications for the position were accepted in September.

On Nov. 4, the School Committee accepted the Search Screening Committee's two finalists. An integral part of the hiring process is to solicit feedback on both candidates from the community. Parents and caregivers will have a chance to meet candidates and provide feedback to the School Committee via a feedback form.