Interim Superintendent

Here Less Than a Year, Interim Superintendent Has Had a Profound Impact

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When John Brackett was appointed Watertown’s interim superintendent the town’s schools faces many issues – a leadership vacuum, schools needing modernizing and expanding and someone to oversee the finances. Last week, the School Committee said goodbye to Brackett, and lauded him for not just keeping the Watertown Public Schools in the same shape he found them but leaving them in a position to take the next step forward. Brackett was hired in late October 2016 following the sudden retirement of Superintendent Jean Fitzgerald in September and he will end his tenure on June 30, 2017. The Watertown Schools needed to hire not only a permanent superintendent but also a school business manager, prepare the district to renovate or rebuild all of its schools along with the business of running the schools each day. All of those have been accomplished or in the case of the school renovations, have made significant progress.

Schools

School Committee: Interim Superintendent Has Experience to Lead Watertown for the Year

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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.

Business Services Director

UPDATED: Watertown Schools Looking for Interims to Replace 2 Top Administrators

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Last Friday was the final day for two of the highest school administrators in Watertown – Superintendent Jean Fitzgerald and Business Services Director Charles Kellner – and now the School Committee must figure out what to do in the short and long terms. 

Fitzgerald announced her retirement in September following calls for the School Committee to have a vote of no confidence, and despite many speaking out in support of her. Kellner is officially retiring in December, but he is using vacation time so he will not be back before his official final day. He will also help with the transition to the interim business manager. For both positions, the School Committee has decided to appoint an interim for the post, and then search for a permanent replacement. A group of parents, teachers, administrators, a high school student and a School Committee member make up the Interim Superintendent Screening Committee, said Assistant Superintendent Theresa McGuinness, who will serve as acting superintendent until an interim is chosen.

Some applications have been received, said Human Resources Director Craig Hardimon, and the screening committee met Thursday, Oct.

Schools

See the Qualities the School Committee Wants the Interim Superintendent to Have

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Experience, good communicator and someone who learns fast are some of the qualities the School Committee is looking for in an interim superintendent. Monday night, the School Committee discussed finding a temporary head of schools until a permanent replacement can be found for retiring Superintendent Jean Fitzgerald. School Committee Vice Chair Kendra Foley said she would like to find someone with experience and is a good leader. “I do not just want the person to play a role of superintendent, but guide the community through the process of finding a new superintendent,” Foley said. School Committee Chairman John Portz agreed with the need for experience, because there is always a learning curve when a superintendent comes to a new community.