Charlie Breitrose
The School Committee appointed Dr. John Brackett as the interim superintendent for the rest of the school year.
The Watertown School Committee appointed a former superintendent, principal and teacher to lead the town’s Public Schools through the year while a permanent replacement is found.
On Tuesday night, the School Committee chose Dr. John Brackett to fill the interim superintendent role through the rest of the school year, or until a new superintendent is found.
When Brackett was interviewed by the School Committee Monday night, he said that he researched the Watertown Schools and saw the challenges, such as crowding and lack of a school business manager, but he also saw some positives.
“I also found a lot of things appealing about the district,” Brackett said. “There are a lot of exciting things, such as diversity is celebrated and a strong commitment to high achievement.”
Communication is a challenge in many districts, and Brackett said he would communicate often with the School Committee. He also said he wants to have open communications with parents, teachers and others.
“I have a sign on my door that says, ‘Come in. You are the reason I’m here,'” Brackett said.
Brackett retired after eight years serving as superintendent of the Sudbury Public Schools in 2011, and since then he has worked as an interim superintendent in Weston and Framingham. He also served as an educational consultant for the schools in Salem and Beverly.
Before coming to Sudbury, he worked for 12 years as superintendent in the Lake Shore School District in St. Clair Shores, Mich., and assistant superintendent in the Mountain View-Los Altos School District in California for seven years. He also worked as a principal, a teacher, a leader of business services and operations.
School Committee member Eileen Hsu-Balzer said she liked Brackett’s wide range of experiences.
“The fact he had been a teacher, a principal, an assistant superintendent and an superintendent gives him a lot of experience,” Hsu-Balzer said. “As an interim he needs to hit the ground running.”
School Committee member Guido Guidotti said he believes Brackett will be able to lead Watertown through its superintendent search.
Elizabeth Yusem was the School Committee member on the screening committee for the interim superintendent and said Brackett made a good impression on her.
“I am happy that Dr. Brackett was nominated,” Yusem said. “When he spoke at the public forum (last week) there was such an ease of conversation. He makes people feel comfortable.”
Brackett will be a good fit for Watertown, said School Committee Chairman John Portz. His experience as a school business manager will help Watertown as it looks for an interim business services director. The full-time replacement will be hired by the new superintendent.
Now the School Committee and Brackett must work out an employment agreement, said Portz, who added he hoped that could be completed by next week, and have Brackett start immediately afterward.