As the search process for a new superintendent for Holyoke Public Schools moves into the final phase, community members will have two opportunities to learn more about the three finalists:
Public meet-and-greet opportunities for brief informal conversations with the candidates will be held in the Holyoke High School North cafeteria based on the schedule listed below.
Finalist interviews with the full School Committee will be held in the Holyoke High School North auditorium. These are open to the public and will also be streamed online for those who prefer to watch them remotely.
The schedule is as follows:
February 10 — 5 p.m. meet-and-greet with Carmen Melendez Quintero, executive director of inclusive education at Boston City Schools, followed by 6:30 p.m. interview.
February 11 — 5 p.m. meet-and-greet with Jacqueline Glasheen, assistant superintendent at Holyoke Public Schools, followed by 6:30 p.m. interview.
February 12 — 5 p.m. meet-and-greet with Annie Azarloza, interim superintendent of schools at Northumberland, Stratford & Stark Schools in New Hampshire, followed by 6:30 p.m. interview.
For those who wish to watch the interviews online, they will be streamed to the School Committee page of the district website. The livestream videos will become visible on the page just below the list of School Committee meeting dates when the interviews begin. The recordings of all three interviews will be posted on the School Committee page on Friday, February 13 for anyone who wishes to watch them at a later date.
In addition to the finalist interviews, School Committee members will also visit each candidate’s current school district and will meet with some of their colleagues as they seek to gain deeper insights into each candidate’s background and experiences. The candidates will also spend time touring HPS and meeting with small groups of staff members and students while they are on site for their in-person meet-and-greets and formal interviews with the School Committee.
The three finalists were selected from among nine applications received in December, following a screening process led by 12 volunteers who served on the Superintendent Search Screening Committee. The committee reviewed all nine applications that had been received and selected five candidates for confidential semi-finalist interviews in January. The Screening Committee shared their recommendations for finalist candidates during the School Committee meeting on January 26. The School Committee is expected to make their decision later this winter.