WACHUSETT REGIONAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
Superintendent Search

Superintendent Annuoncement

The Wachusett Regional School Committee is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. James Reilly as Superintendent of Schools. Dr. Reilly will assume his duties as of July 1, 2022.

Dr. Reilly’s appointment comes after a nationwide search process that attracted tens of applicants for the position. A Superintendent Search Screening Committee, composed of parents, town officials, community members, and school personnel, across all five regional communities, reviewed all the applications and invited several candidates for preliminary interviews. Subsequent to the preliminary interviews, the screening committee recommended four candidates for further consideration by the Wachusett Regional School Committee.

On March 17th, 2022, the School Committee voted unanimously to enter into contract negotiations with Dr. Reilly.

Dr. Reilly has had a progressive career in education spanning varied roles across multiple educational levels. Starting as an Adjustment Counselor in a K-8 school in Brockton, to a Behavior Specialist Teacher in a Junior/Senior High School in Millbury, to a Principal in an Early Childhood Program in Leominster, Dr. Reilly’s experience provides a unique perspective to form a holistic and system-wide view to the Wachusett district. Dr. Reilly brings a “student-first” and compassionate leadership approach to the district.

The Wachusett Regional School Committee looks forward to working with Dr. Reilly in the future. The School Committee also extends its appreciation to all those in the schools and in the communities of Holden, Paxton, Princeton, Rutland, and Sterling who offered their support and assistance during the search process.

Finalist Interviews Complete - Videos Posted

Videos of the finalist interview are being made available at the site linked below. These videos can also be viewed on the individual pages in the Candidates menu above.

Superintendent Finalist Interviews (HCTV)

The School Committee will hold deliberations in a special meeting on Thursday, March 17th at 7:00 pm with the goal of selecting a candidate with whom to enter into contract negotiations.

Finalist Details Posted

Finalists will be visiting the district from March 8-14. Use the 'Candidates' link at the top right to access candidate resumes, see their Day in the District schedule, and provide feedback.

Finalist Candidates Announced

The Screening Committee reviewed all the completed applications and subsequently selected a number of candidates who were invited to meet with the Screening Committee for a preliminary interview. Following the preliminary interviews and after much discussion and consideration, the Screening Committee, during its meeting on February 23, 2022, voted to recommend four candidates for further consideration by the Wachusett Regional School District Committee.

The four candidates, listed in alphabetical order, are:

• Dr. Marlene DiLeo
  Superintendent, Ware Public Schools in Ware, Massachusetts
  

• Mr. Timothy LaGrange
  Superintendent, Southwest DuBois County School Corporation in Huntingburg, Indiana
  

• Dr. James Reilly
  Assistant Superintendent, Leominster Public Schools in Leominster, Massachusetts
  

• Dr. Brian Ricca
  Superintendent, St. Johnsbury Public Schools in St. Johnsbury, Vermont
  

On behalf of the School Committee and the member towns of the Regional District, we would like to thank the members of the Screening Committee for the many hours they devoted to reviewing applications, interviewing candidates, and deliberating during the preliminary selection process.

Candidate finalists are invited for a Day in the District tour and final interviews with the School Committee between March 8th – 14th. Additional details will be made available.

Successful Candidate Profile

Thank you to the over 300 parents, teachers, staff, and students who have either provided feedback through the online survey or participated in one of the fourteen focus groups conducted in January. The School Committee adopted the Successful Candidate Profile which reflects the values, competencies, and skills desired in the next Superintendent. This profile will be used as the Screening Committee and School Committee select applicants for further consideration.

Approved Candidate Profile

Superintendent Screening Committee

The School Committee voted to create a Superintendent Screening Committee. The Screening Committee, which shall be composed of School Committee members, teachers, and other members of the community, will be charged with:

• Reviewing applications for the position of Superintendent

• Selecting applicants to be interviewed based descriptors found in the Successful Candidate Profile

• Interviewing applicants and selecting finalists, to be put forward to the full School Committee, who exhibit a high standard of the qualities described in the Successful Candidate Profile

The committee is expected to meet several times throughout the month of February with specific dates and times to be determined. Click the link below to apply to serve on the Superintendent Screening Committee.

Screening Committee Application

Focus Groups Scheduled for Early January

NESDEC will be conducting online focus groups between January 5th and 12th. These virtual focus groups are an important part of the process because they are designed to obtain input from various stakeholders regarding the attributes, experiences, and desired goals for a new superintendent. Details on the focus groups' dates, times, and audiences have been sent by email to WRSD parents, teachers, staff, administrators, and union leadership.

Focus Group Schedule

Superintendent Qualities/Skills/Attributes Questionnaire - Now Closed

The Wachusett Regional School Committee thanks you for your input.

PRESS RELEASE
Superintendent Search Process Underway – NESDEC Hired to Assist Search

The Wachusett Regional School Committee has engaged the New England School Development Council (NESDEC) of Marlborough, Massachusetts to assist in the search for a new Superintendent of Schools. NESDEC is a not-for-profit organization that serves school districts throughout the six New England states. Dr. Carolyn Burke and Dr. Arthur Bettencourt will serve as the consultants for the search.

The Wachusett Regional School Committee has been meeting with the NESDEC consultants to review the various elements of the search and to develop a search timeline. In assisting the School Committee with the search, NESDEC will generate advertising and outreach materials, recruit potential applicants, provide training and guidance for the preliminary screening committee, and assist throughout the process as candidates are screened and interviewed.

An integral part of the superintendent search will be a Community Needs Assessment process involving parent and community participation in focus groups and a web-based survey. The Community Needs Assessment portion of the search is designed to obtain input regarding the attributes, experiences and knowledge that the new superintendent should possess. The Needs Assessment also provides an opportunity for stakeholders to identify immediate tasks and challenges that the new superintendent should address. The information, accumulated as a result of the Community Needs Assessment, will be developed into a Successful Candidate Profile, which will be used by the School Committee as it considers candidates for the position of Superintendent of Schools.

Additional information regarding the focus groups and online survey will be available in the coming weeks.