Superintendent Search 2025

Overview

As many people know Superintendent Dr. Carol Cavanaugh will be retiring on June 30 and we are in the midst of searching for a successor Superintendent who will begin July 1, 2025.

The school committee has selected NESDEC to run the search. Carolyn Burke has been selected as our representative to organize the process for Hopkinton.

The Hopkinton School Committee is currently seeking volunteers to assist with screening applicants for a new Superintendent of Schools. The Screening Committee will work to screen applicants and select candidates for a first round of interviews, conduct first round interviews, and submit a list of finalists for consideration to the School Committee. If you are interested in serving on this committee, please complete and submit this application form by Monday, February 10. The person selected will receive an email from the School Committee by February 17, 2025.

Superintendent of Schools Job Posting Announcement
Superintendent Qualities Survey
Application to Serve on the Screening Committee for the Superintendent of Schools Search Process

Timeline

Task	RESPONSIBILITIES.	Dates.
Orientation Meeting/ Overview of Process	SCHOOL COMMITTEE (review/decisions) (NESDEC provides guidelines) Name Liaison Determine Composition of Screening Committee Discuss letter/ads/application Approve Draft Timeline Determine Focus Groups	January 2, 2025 January 9, 2025
Goal Hire Date for New Superintendent	School Committee	April 15, 2025
Anticipated Start Date for New Superintendent	School Committee	July 1, 2025
Develop Invitational Letter & Online Ad	NESDEC/Liaisons: Develop letter and ads; SCHOOL COMMITTEE: Final approval NESDEC website announcement posted as soon as info is available.	Text approved by January 16, 2025
Distribute Letter, Advertise, Post Vacancy on Web Sites, Begin Recruiting	NESDEC Website and Recruiting Network	Outreach begins January 17, 2025
		Recruitment through February 14, 2025
Community Needs Assessment	SCHOOL COMMITTEE determines focus groups/interviews – i.e. Admin; Staff; Community/ Parents	January 9, 2025
	SCHOOL COMMITTEE District schedules and notifies public, etc.	By January 28, 2025
	NESDEC Conducts focus groups/interviews and develops candidate profile	February 4-10, 2025
	NESDEC Administer online survey	Through February 12 2025
Candidate Profile	SCHOOL COMMITTEE/NESDEC	Draft to SC by February 17, 2025
Candidate Profile		Approved by February 20, 2025
Screening Committee Selection: Advertise/Recruit and Select Members.	SCHOOL COMMITTEE/LIAISON (NESDEC provides guidance)	By February 13, 2025
Begin Review of Applications – (i.e. Application Deadline)	NESDEC	February 14, 2025
Complete/Organize Applicant Files	NESDEC	February 14-24, 2025
1st Interview/Selection Workshop with Screening Committee (2-3 hrs)	NESDEC & SCREENING COMMITTEE Meeting 1: Review procedures, develop questions, set interview schedule, provide access to applications	Monday, February 24, 2025
2nd Screening Committee Workshop (1-2 hrs)	NESDEC & SCREENING COMMITTEE Meeting 2: Review applications, affirm interview schedule	Thursday, February 27, 2025
Preliminary Interviews of Selected Applicants	SCREENING COMMITTEE (NESDEC will set up interviews and notify candidates of status)	March 5-14, 2025
Determine Candidates to Recommend to School Committee by Date Noted	SCREENING COMMITTEE candidates listed alphabetically	By March 17, 2025
First Agreement in Principle with Finalists and Verify Credentials	NESDEC	By March 19, 2025
Announce Finalists and School Committee Search Workshop	SCHOOL COMMITTEE and NESDEC	March 27 -April 10, 2025
Finalists Interviews and Days in Hopkinton and Reference Checks	SCHOOL COMMITTEE	TBD March 20-24, 2025
Second Agreement in Principle with Finalists and Verify Credentials	NESDEC	April 10-13, 2025
Select Superintendent	SCHOOL COMMITTEE	April 15, 2025

Parent/Guardian Focus Group

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INVITATION AND PRESS RELEASE FOR PARENTS/GUARDIANS

AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS

PARENTS/GUARDIANS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS, WE ARE SEEKING YOUR INPUT AS PART OF OUR SUPERINTENDENT SEARCH PROCESS

The Hopkinton School Committee has engaged the New England School Development Council (NESDEC) to assist in the search for a new Superintendent of Schools. An integral part of the superintendent search involves parent and community participation in the needs assessment process. There are several possible ways to share your ideas:

In-person focus group
Virtual focus group
Online survey

The focus groups and the survey are designed to enable participants to provide insight into the knowledge, skills, and experiences they want the new superintendent to possess.

Dr. Carolyn Burke, the NESDEC consultant who is working with the School Committee to facilitate the search, will conduct the community needs assessment. She looks forward to meeting and talking with you.

IN PERSON FOCUS GROUP:

The in-person focus group for parents/guardians and community members will be held on Tuesday, February 4, 2025 at 7:00 PM at the High School Library.

VIRTUAL FOCUS GROUP:

The virtual focus group for parents/guardians and community members will be held on Wednesday, February 5, 2025 at 7:00 PM.

Hopkinton Superintendent Search – Community Members Focus Group

Time: February 5, 2025 at 7:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82162894641?pwd=JE1TRuQJQ1bnSZn92C3V3UapaI8A8n.1

Meeting ID: 821 6289 4641

Passcode: 934388

ONLINE SURVEY:

Please access the survey through this link:

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/88JGFLT

The survey will be open from January 28, 2025-February 12, 2025. The Hopkinton School Committee wants and values your opinions. We hope you will take advantage of these opportunities to participate.

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