The contract extension announced this past spring for Old Rochester Regional Superintendent of Schools Mike Nelson is the ringing endorsement that tells all, but the state’s Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) prescribes an involved process for a superintendent’s Summative Evaluation.
In summarizing that process, Sharon Hartley told the Old Rochester Regional Joint School Committee/Superintendency Union #55 during Monday night’s public meeting that Nelson’s review achieved DESE’s goal of exemplary.
“The School Committee members worked very hard on this process,” said Hartley, impressed with the “most consistency of response that I’ve seen in my time.”
DESE, Hartley explained, sought one rating out of a composite of ratings in various categories. Nelson exhibited two overarching strengths in his first two years as ORR superintendent: effective communication and the development of relationships between teachers, administrators, school committee members and parents.
“I set very high expectations for myself,” said Nelson. “To be candid, this outcome only motivates me more.”
Nelson credited the people around him for making ORR’s successes possible. “It’s really reflective of our collective efforts,” he said. “I’m keenly aware of how lucky I am to be the superintendent of schools here.”
In a brief version of his Strategic Plan/Vision 2023 Update, Nelson said he is wrapping up Year 4 of the plan. He noted that Dr. Linda Ashley, who is replacing Rose Bowman as principal at Center School in Mattapoisett, will join the force, as summer planning for Year 5 of the Strategic Plan/Vision 2023 begins. No official action was required of the Joint School Committee.
Before the agenda reached the subject of Nelson’s review, the Joint School Committee voted unanimously on both sides to approve the appointment of Dr. Shari Fedorowicz as the new assistant superintendent of Teaching & Learning for the ORR District.
The hiring process included an identifying of candidates followed by a round of interviews, then meetings to establish finalists for the job, at which point the vetting process dug deeper with reference checks and site visits.
The search committee found that Fedorowicz, who has most recently served as director of Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment for Abington Public Schools, emerged as the leading candidate primarily because of her proven track record examining curriculum at all grade levels.
Search committee members April Nye, Derek Medeiros and Anne Fernandes came away from their effort impressed with Fedorowicz’s ability to listen and develop action plans. Nye was particularly impressed upon her site visit to the classrooms.
“Collaborative” was the operative word on both sides, as Fedorowicz thanked the hiring committee, noting how impressed she was with meeting the school committee members and students and appreciated their “welcoming” posture.
“I’m excited about the opportunity and the work that is waiting,” said Fedorowicz.
Nelson thanked Dr. Jannell Pearson-Campbell, who held the job through the end of the 2021-22 school year. Pearson-Campbell, whose efforts were focused on professional development and information technology aimed at improving literacy, announced her impending departure during the winter months, citing personal circumstances.
In the final meeting of the JSC for the 2021-22 academic year, chairperson’s reports were brief.
On the far side of the pandemic, Hartley celebrated the “normal” status of operations.
District side Chairperson Heather Burke was serving in her final meeting as a committee member and took the opportunity to share the advice to “showcase these students as much as you can. They tell the story of ORR better than anyone else. … Really get those words out and really communicate because that’s what it’s all about.”
In other business, the JSC unanimously approved three policy changes involving Nondiscrimination policies and procedures, changes to the grievance procedure associated with ORR’s Harassment policies, and a new policy on the harassment of students.
In one other move, the Anti-Racism Resolution will no longer be coded and placed in any one section but will rather be placed at the beginning of the policy manual.
Early in the meeting, the JSC broke into executive session to discuss negotiations and to comply with state laws and returned to public session in approximately 53 minutes.
The next meeting of the Joint School Committee is scheduled for Thursday, September 29, at 6:30 pm.
ORR Joint School Committee / Superintendency Union #55
By Mick Colageo