Brookline Schools Superintendent Andrew Bott Takes Job In Boston

BROOKLINE, MA — Outgoing Superintendent of Brookline Schools has taken a job as interim headmaster at a Boston Public School. On Friday, the School Committee announced that Superintendent Andrew Bott had resigned. In a letter to the school committee Bott said the stresses of the Brookline job, three years in, where taking too much of a toll on him and his family.

By the weekend, Bott was listed as the New Mission High School in Boston's interim headmaster on the school's website.

He replaces Naia Wilson who has been headmaster since 2006. She started as principal of Randolph Middle School on July 1.

The majority of students at the award-winning college prep school are black or Latino, about half are poor, and a third learned English as a second language and most of the graduating seniors plan to attend college, making it among a handful of Boston public schools with that high of college-going rates.

The announcement that Bott is stepping down came as a surprise to many. He leaves Brookline as the district is working on negotiating contentious teacher contracts, finding enough space to accommodate rising enrollment after the town voted down a plan to build a ninth elementary, and a renovation of the high school.

Bott joined the Brookline Public Schools in 2014. Prior to becoming superintendent, Bott was the principal of the Lincoln School in Brookline from 2014 to 2016.

As principal of the Lincoln School, Bott is credited with increasing learning across student groups, implemented new school-wide anti-bullying initiatives, and supported long-term literacy and math professional development.

Before coming to Brookline, he worked for more than a decade in Boston. He is credited with leading the turnaround of Orchard Gardens K-8 School in Roxbury from a level 4 school in 2010 to a level 1 school in 2013, with a student growth rate that was the highest among comparable schools in the Commonwealth, increasing student attendance to nearly 96 percent and expanding the school day for students in grades 5-8.

Bott holds a B.A. in Sociology from Rice University and a M.Ed. in Administration Planning and Social Policy from Harvard University.

Bott did not return request for comment.

RELATED:

• Brookline Public Schools Superintendent Andrew Bott Resigns
• Who Will Be Brookline's Next Superintendent?

Patch reporter Jenna Fisher can be reached at Jenna.Fisher@patch.com or by calling 617-942-0474. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram (@ReporterJenna).