Tuesday night the school committee will be interviewing in open session, Katie Spinos the internal candidate for the superintendent's job. The candidate has been an employee of the system for the past 7 years in the position responsible for curriculum.
By most accounts she has had a stellar record within the system and has been advancing herself educationally. She has an under grad degree from B.C. and two masters degrees and is missing only her dissertation on her way to her doctorate.
There has been some weeping and moaning about the need for a "nation wide search" for a new superintendent with the teachers union being one of the main advocates. It will be interesting to see whether or not the teachers union is equally receptive to residents or the school committee the next time they select some one to lead their organization.
What this boils down to is a simple business decision. With the superintendent, the high school principal as well as the head of the guidance department announcing retirements, the community will be losing top people in the system. Hiring some one from within the system with a demonstrated track record makes perfect sense in maintaining some semblance of continuity as well as saving the time and expense of a search.
The option of a search does remain on the table however if Tuesday night does not go as I suspect. Ms. Spinos will be interviewed in open session by the committee and will also be asked unscreened questions from the residents of the community. It will be up to her to demonstrate that she is the obvious choice for the position.
