Contract Negotiations Complete: New Superintendent Named for Nashoba Tech

WESTFORD, MA - The school committee of the Nashoba Valley Technical High School district officially confirmed the school’s current principal as its next superintendent during an executive session Tuesday night.

Denise Pigeon came to the district during the 2005-06 school year as the director of curriculum; she was named principal in 2010 and will assume her new role as superintendent on Feb. 29, 2016.

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“The district is filled with outstanding educators and outstanding students, and I look forward to working with them as a team,” Pigeon said in a press release. “I’m excited to continue to serve the district in this new capacity.”

Pigeon will take the reins from current superintendent Judith Klimkiewicz, who is retiring in her 20th year at the district’s helm.

The superintendent selection process experienced a few hiccoughs along the way to naming Pigeon, with the school committee failing to reach contract consensus with its initial pick to lead the district, Leo DeSimone. The committee then subsequently voted to offer the position to Pigeon, one of its three finalists along with DeSimone and Carissa Karakaedos.

Pigeon’s contract carries her through the 2018-19 school year and includes a starting salary of $145,000 annually with the potential for raises based on performance, according to a press release.

“The School Committee is very excited to have this part of the process done and excited about moving forward,” School Committee Chairwoman Jennifer Rhodes of Shirley said. “We are pleased to have Denise taking the reins of Nashoba Tech and continuing to move the school forward.”

Klimkiewicz retired on Dec. 31, 2015, but agreed to remain in the superintendent’s office on a per-diem basis until her replacement was found. She will continue with the district until Feb. 29 to help with the transition.

Pigeon is currently working on the final phases of her doctorate in educational leadership from Nova Southeastern University. She received her Certificate of Advanced Graduate Studies in educational leadership and occupational administration from Fitchburg State College, her Master of Education in technology in education from Lesley University, and her Bachelor of Science in health education from Worcester State College.

Before coming to Nashoba Tech, Pigeon worked at Whittier Regional Vocational Technical High School in Haverhill as a teacher, cluster chair and instructional technology specialist.

She is an Amesbury native and currently lives in Salisbury with her husband, Andrew, and their three children.

Photo courtesy Nashoba Valley Technical High School.