Letter: Lessons from Principal Search Process

To the editor:

I recently participated in the 15-member Elementary Principal "Super" Search Committee. The Committee, made up of two principals, four teachers, one school committee member, one administrator, six parents and a community representative screened resumes, interviewed candidates, and passed on qualified candidates to outgoing Superintendent Casey and incoming Superintendent Taymore to interview.

Together they made the final principal selections and school placement choices for the Hoover, Horace Mann, and Roosevelt Elementary Schools. As the candidate screeners, our clearly defined task was to identify candidates who are excellent instructional leaders with solid communication skills, have a commitment to collaboration, the ability to make tough decisions, and who are articulate and energizing. In addition, we had school-specific feedback from staff and parents that helped guide our thought-process.

In the more than 10 hours that we read through resumes and then convened and discussed the educational needs of three Melrose elementary schools I learned the following:

1. Short administrative tenures are not unique to Melrose. Three years in one position in the same school district or in different districts is very common.

2. Melrose attracted a solid group of qualified candidates.

3. If Casey and Taymore didn't find the perfect fit for each school, plan B was a competent and experienced interim principal which is also common practice.

4. The committee was thorough, thoughtful, did their homework, and brought a variety of perspectives to the discussion. The one thing we all had in common was a commitment to our community which came through loud and clear.

5. As one of just a couple of non-educators on the committee (an important component), I found "edu-speak" difficult to decipher. If educators want parents to become engaged partners, the profession needs to come up with better ways to describe what they do every day.

6. The superintendent's conference room needs a window and a paint job.

As a parent of three children in the Melrose Public School system, I appreciated the opportunity to participate in this process which is unique to the public school experience.

Sincerely,
Martha Grover
Franklin ECC, Hoover, MVMMS parent