Superintendent Claudia Bach has begun interviewing the finalists to become the next principals of Andover High and Bancroft Elementary schools.
Search committees, comprised of parents, staff and administration from the two schools have narrowed each pool down to three finalists.
For Bancroft, finalists include Dianne Connolly, a Haverhill assistant principal who started her teaching career at Bancroft in 1988; Philip Banios, assistant principal in Groveland; and current Bancroft Interim Principal Francine Goldstein.
"Bancroft holds a special place in my heart," said Connolly, who taught at Bancroft from 1988 to 1995, and later worked in town as a home tutor. "I have fond memories about the Bancroft community, the staffs collaboration of working together, trying to best meet the needs of every individual. I agree with Andover and Bancroft's philosophy of keeping high standards."
For Andover High School, finalists include Jonathan Harris, a Chelmsford native currently working in the Austin, Texas public schools; Philip Conrad, assistant principal at Hamilton-Wenham High School; and Brian Salzer, current principal of Newton South High School.
Superintendent Bach said she was not surprised the job postings drew 20 applicants for the Andover High principal position and 22 applicants for Bancroft, and doesn't consider that a low turnout.
"I expected 20 or so resumes. The candidate pool (for school principals) is shrinking. Some years back, there would have been 50 or more. Principals are aging and retiring, and fewer people are going through the certification and training to become a principal, moving from teacher to principal," said Bach.
"The quality of applicants was very high. People want to be (work) in Andover, we know that. We've had cases where they're dropped out of a candidate race in another town because they were chosen as finalist in Andover. Our pay is a little higher than surrounding districts, and we have schools that are striving and have been lead by very good people."
In the first week in January, current AHS Principal Peter Anderson announced his intention to resign in June 2009. Bancroft's current leader, Francine Goldstein, was hired by the superintendent in June 2008 for a one-year interim principal position.
The district started advertising and accepting resumes the second week in January, and closed the deadline Feb. 2, said Gillian Chartier, recruitment assistant in Andover's human resources department. It hopes to have both principal jobs filled within three or four weeks, said Chartier. Bach said she hopes to hire the Bancroft Elementary principal as early as next week, and the AHS job possibly by the second week of March.
Last year's principal searches at West Elementary drew 18 applicants over a two-month period and Doherty Middle School received 27 applicant for its principal job, over a 33 day period, said Chartier. South Elementary accepted applications through two rounds of searching, and received 35 applicants, total, over two one-month periods.
Diane Costagliola, AHS PAC co-president, served on the school's principal search committee, and said stability — a principal who will stay long-term — and knowledge of the budget process were two important qualities they looked for, said Costagliola.
"It was a good pool of people, and these (top three) were exceptionally viable candidates. Either of these three gentlemen will take AHS to the next phase," she said.
In the next few weeks, each candidate will visit their perspective school, spending a day with current staff, students and parents. Bach will also do site visits to see them working in their current job. For Harris, it means flying down to Austin, Texas.
Bach said she frames her interview questions around the things parent focus groups identify as important.
"I'm also looking for someone who would be a great colleague with the current principals in Andover. Someone who is really a team player, will work closely with other administrators, and work with me to move the school forward.
"Also, does the person really have a sense of how education is going to have to change? What are the things we have to do with kids to make them more competitive, have the skills to survive in tough economic times," said Bach. "(A candidate must) really be willing to take some risks, really respect teachers, parents and really care about kids ... if a person goes through an interview and doesn't happen to mention students, that makes me worried."
