Harvard is fortunate now to have an internal candidate for the position of school superintendent, a post that has remained empty for more than two years, though ably filled in the interim by acting Superintendent Joe Connelly. Linda Dwight, who went public with her interest in the job this week, has been principal of Hildreth Elementary for two years, accomplishing significant changes to programs and staff and winning praise from students, parents, and faculty members. (See related article.)
The School Committee must now decide whether to reopen its search for a qualified candidate using an outside consultant, as it voted to do last month, or to promote Dwight and begin the search for a new elementary school principal.
In choosing Dwight, the schools would gain a leader who has worked successfully within the system and understands the challenges and opportunities of managing a high-achieving district. Moreover, unlike other candidates who have been offered the position, Dwight says she wants the job and is committed to the long-term success of the schools. She understands the nuances of the position, and by now is well aware of the issues faced by previous superintendents. A carefully managed transition would allow her to learn the ropes of managing an $18 million operation from Connelly, who is well versed in school and town finances, as the two of them begin work on the fiscal 2015 budget. And the town would save the estimated $20,000 that would likely be spent in hiring a search firm.
And yet, by not subjecting Dwight’s candidacy to the rigors of a third-party search, Harvard risks a disservice to her as well as to its schools. How well do her experience and training match the criteria set by last year’s search committee? How do her skills compare with those of other candidates who might surface in a search conducted by a third-party recruiter? And is it wise—or fair—to ask anyone to step so directly into one of the most demanding jobs in town?
Another option?
We’d like to suggest a middle path. First, perhaps the School Committee could engage its consultant to vet Dwight’s experience and qualifications against a pool of likely candidates, and produce a report for the committee. Based on that information, the committee could decide whether to offer the job to her, or to expand the search to include outside candidates as well. Should Dwight prove to be a likely first choice in any search, the committee could then decide to offer her the job knowing it had done its due diligence. And by renegotiating Connelly’s contract, it might also be possible to provide Dwight with a six- to 12-month transition, during which Connelly could provide her with on-the-job mentoring that would be unequaled, while working with her to select her successor at Hildreth Elementary School.
Such an approach could result in both a new superintendent and a new HES principal to begin the 2014-2015 school year.
