WEB UPDATE: Superintendent Bach will leave district after second night of Town Meeting

Outgoing Superintendent Claudia Bach will leave her Andover job before the end of April. She has accepted a state position with the Massachusetts department formerly known as the Department of Education.
Assistant Superintendent Susan Nicholson will become interim superintendent through May and June. until Marinel McGrath begins on July 1.
McGrath, superintendent of the Hamilton-Wenham schools, was hired in March after a three-month superintendent search process.
Bach will begin in May as the director of educator policy, preparation and leadership within the Center for Educator Politics, Preparation, and Leadership Development for the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.
Bach says she and the School Committee have put together a “transition plan,” which keeps her in the district through the second night of Town Meeting, April 29.
Bach announced her news in a district-wide email to parents Wednesday afternoon, March 31, writing:
“Improving the quality of our educators has been a major goal and focus for me in Andover, because I know having good teachers in our classrooms is the single most influential factor affecting the achievement of our students. Now I have the opportunity to take my work to the state level. With the Obama administration placing a major emphasis on ‘Great Teachers and Leaders’ in its Race to the Top initiative, I can think of no more exciting work to be doing in the coming years.”
Bach, Andover’s superintendent since 1998, announced in October her intention to step down. Her contract lasts through June 30, but in accepting her resignation, the School Committee released her from having to stay through the end of the year.
For more on this issue, see the April 8 print edition of the Andover Townsman.

Claudia Bach’s full letter to parents, sent March 31
Dear Andover School Community,
You have known since last fall that I am stepping down as the Andover Superintendent of Schools. In fact, the search for a new Superintendent has concluded and Dr. Marinel McGrath will become your Superintendent on July 1, 2010. She was here for many years as the Assistant Superintendent, so she knows our community well. I have no doubt she will be an excellent leader. My best wishes go to Marinel.
You also heard me say that I was not retiring, because I was eager to continue making a contribution to the education of children. So, I write with exciting news: I have been appointed the Director of Educator Policy, Preparation and Leadership within the Center for Educator Politics, Preparation, and Leadership Development at the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. This is a new position created to ensure strong staff coordination and support for DESE’s efforts to strengthen educator effectiveness throughout the Commonwealth. Those who know me well know what an ideal job this is for me, because of the importance I have placed in our district on recruiting and retaining outstanding teachers and administrators. I frequently say that my most important job as Superintendent is hiring good principals; and in turn, I tell principals their most important job is hiring excellent teachers. I take great pride in the quality of our educators. Not only have we hired the best people we could find, we have provided them with the support they need to do a good job and to continue to improve their practice. Over the years we brought into being a number of important programs for our educators:
1) Orientation, Induction and Mentoring program for teachers and administrators (with much help from Dr. Woods)
2) Support to teachers earning the National Board Certification
3) Support for teachers in Salem State’s Administrator T.I.L.E program
4) Adaptive Leadership cohorts for our administrators
5) Professional Learning Community efforts (by studying and putting into practice the work of Eaker and Dufour).
Improving the quality of our educators has been a major goal and focus for me in Andover, because I know having good teachers in our classrooms is the single most influential factor affecting the achievement of our students. Now I have the opportunity to take my work to the state level. With the Obama administration placing a major emphasis on “Great Teachers and Leaders” in its Race to the Top initiative, I can think of no more exciting work to be doing in the coming years.
The unfortunate aspect of this opportunity is that I will have to leave my position here before the end of the school year. I will begin working full time at the Department of Education beginning May. Working with the School Committee, I have put together a lengthy transition plan which enables me to remain here for Town Meeting. The plan includes having Dr. Susan Nicholson serve as Interim Superintendent through June 30, a job she has graciously agreed to do. I also will be available, if needed, to aid Marinel as she comes on board.
I have been honored to have served as your Superintendent these last 12 years. This is a remarkable community with citizens who care deeply about our schools and who give generously of their time and energy to make them successful. I have been a part of a large number of people working hard to have Andover be the place where people want to come and raise their families. I love this Town, so while I will be working elsewhere, my husband and I will continue to live here. I will come to Town Meetings in the future, and as a tax payer I always will vote in support of a budget that keeps our schools strong, because I know that’s our obligation to the next generation. Paying for good schools is a small price for ensuring a prosperous future for all of us. Thanks to you all for your support and commitment to our schools. I’ll see you around town.
Sincerely,
Claudia

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