Wayland HS Principal Finalist For Lincoln-Sudbury Superintendent Job

WAYLAND, MA — A top Wayland school official is a finalist for a job as the next superintendent and principal at Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School, officials revealed Thursday evening.

Wayland High School Principal Allyson Mizoguchi and the Wellesley and Lexington high school principals were the top three candidates picked for the job by a Lincoln-Sudbury search committee. Superintendent Bella Wong is stepping down at the end of this school year.

Mizoguchi emailed parents Thursday night after her selection became public.

"The LSRHS position intrigues me because it represents the challenge of district-level leadership within a high school building, in close proximity to students and teachers," the note said. "Due to its unique 'one-school district' qualities, I felt a strong urge to apply for the position and explore it as fully as possible. I am now fortunate to have the opportunity to move to the next stage of their process, learn and listen some more, and see where it takes me."

If selected, Mizoguchi would be the latest in a series of departures at the top of Wayland Public Schools in recent months.

In one week in early February, acting superintendent Parry Graham accepted a job to become Lincoln's new superintendent, with an expected departure of June 30; Wayland Middle School principal Betsy Gavron announced a one-year sabbatical for the 2023-24 school year; and Happy Hollow principal Tricia O’Reilly resigned for a job in another district. Weeks later, Finance Director Tom Lafleur announced his departure. Barbara Cataldo, the district's special education director, is in the midst of a one-year contract.

Superintendent Omar Easy, meanwhile, was placed on involuntary leave in February by the Wayland School Committee. His future with the district is uncertain, and school officials have not yet announced who will take over when Graham leaves at the end of June.

The district is planning to fill the other district leadership roles with temporary hires. Mizoguchi was picked to lead the search for a new assistant superintendent.

Lincoln-Sudbury still has to hold interviews and public meetings with the candidates before making a final decision. The Lincoln-Sudbury School Committee could vote on a finalist for the job by April 5.

Mizoguchi has been a Wayland Public Schools educator since the 1990s, but took over as principal in 2014 ahead of the 2014-15 school year.