New Assabet Valley Superintendent Named

The Assabet Valley Regional School District has a new superintendent.

Assistant Superintendent and Business Director Patrick Collins takes over on July 1.

"He has been at the school for several years, so he can definitely hit the ground running, and he’s been part of all major decisions for ongoing projects," Assabet Valley School Committee Maynard Representative Laura Ross said in a press release Wednesday.

"The entire school committee is very happy that we were able to offer the position to Pat."

Collins came to Assabet in 2007 from the Shrewsbury public schools, where he was the director of business services. He resides in Shrewsbury with his wife Andrea, and three children, Patrick, Meghan and Haley.

Collins' father, John, was Shrewsbury's superintendent for 16 years, retiring in 1993.

"Assabet is in a really good place right now," Patrick Collins said in the release.

"We offer a differentiated learning environment, yet we also have all the extracurricular activities, competitive athletics, and the fantastic opportunity to have a co-op job before they graduate.”

Superintendent Mary Jo Nawrocki retires on June 30. The district has already advertised for a new business director, Collins said.

"We hope to hire by mid-May,” he said.