The School Committee is moving three candidates forward as finalists in their search for a new superintendent for Holyoke Public Schools, with interviews and site visits planned in mid February and a decision expected later this winter.
In total, nine applications for the superintendent position were received by the December 23 deadline, said Massachusetts Association of School Committees Executive Director Glenn Koocher, who is leading the search process for the next HPS superintendent. From there, the 12-member Superintendent Search Screening Committee reviewed all applications and selected five candidates for confidential semi-finalist interviews, which were completed on Wednesday, January 21.
The Screening Committee shared their recommendations for finalist candidates during the School Committee meeting on Monday, January 26. The candidates selected as finalists include:
Annie Azarloza, interim superintendent of schools at Northumberland, Stratford & Stark Schools, SAU #58, Groveton, NH;
Jacqueline Glasheen, assistant superintendent at Holyoke Public Schools; and
Carmen Melendez Quintero, executive director of inclusive education at Boston City Schools.
“We are thrilled to have such a strong candidate pool,” said School Committee Vice Chair Dr. Yadilette Rivera-Colón, “and I extend my thanks to every applicant who expressed interest in helping lead Holyoke Public Schools into its next chapter. I look forward to getting to know our finalists over the coming weeks as we move the search process into the final stages.”
Under the search timeline outlined by Mr. Koocher, School Committee members are expected to select a new superintendent later this winter, with the new superintendent expected to begin work effective July 1.