Beverly Schools Choose Peter Cushing As Next Superintendent

BEVERLY, MA — Medford Public Schools Assistant Superintendent Peter Cushing was offered the post as the new superintendent of Beverly Public Schools in a vote of the School Committee on Thursday night.

The vote came after the interviews of two finalists and a decision to forgo the choice to go with an interim superintendent in the wake of the retirement of Sue Charochak and the historic teachers' strike this past fall.

Beverly Mayor Mike Cahill was among those who initially advocated for an interim superintendent.

"I do not believe, as we sit here, that we have who we need to lead our district forward," Cahill said. "Specific to this moment in time, I believe that what we most need is — and this is hard to say because I think we all feel very positively in many ways about both Dr. Cushing and (fellow finalist) Dr. (Jennifer) Turner.

"I think we need a strong leader with a specific skill set, set of abilities and strengths, who can bring together and effectively and cohesively move our district, all the people involved, forward the way we need to so that our children get what they need."

• Beverly School Committee Interviews Cushing, Turner For Superintendent

School Committee Chair Rachael Abell countered and said: "Feedback consistently favored Dr. Cushing."

"I really believe his personal stake in doing what is doing best for students of Beverly, and beyond what I feel was his enthusiasm in doing his best here in the room in talking about his love for Beverly," she said, "he really connected with so many students, caregivers and other in the district."

Cahill said that "while taking the interim route is not what we came into this process intending to do, hiring the wrong person won't serve our district and our families and our educators.

"And I don't have a feeling of confidence in the leadership that is needed at this point right here in our district, is available to us."

Abell, however, said that "for us to get through this, to build the bridges and mend the fences, that sometimes the best way is through. You have to go through. You can't wait until conditions get better and some miracle person shows up."

The motion in favor of offering Cushing the position was favored in a split decision to reconsider voted down.

"This evening, the Beverly School Committee voted to select Dr. Peter Cushing as the next superintendent of the Beverly Public Schools following a thorough, months-long search process, which included significant input from educators, students, family members, and Beverly residents," Abell said in a statement to the public. "Throughout the interview process, Dr. Cushing demonstrated that he will carry forward our district's commitment to student achievement and to creating welcoming and inclusive learning environments for all.

"We are grateful to every candidate for their time and we will provide the public with additional updates as we begin the onboarding process with Dr. Cushing."

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. X/Twitter: @Scott_Souza)