EAST LONGMEADOW — After a month-long process, the East Longmeadow Superintendent Search Committee has chosen finalists Robby Dodd, Peter Gillen and Joanne Menard to interview with the School Committee, presenting its findings at the Dec. 15 committee meeting.
Superintendent Gordon Smith joined the district in 2010 and will retire in 2026.
Search Committee Chair Donald Maki began the presentation with praise for the search committee’s work during the process. He said a 15-person committee can be an unwieldy proposition, but this experience was the total opposite.
“It was the most insightful, rewarding experience of a committee process like that,” Maki said. “I’ve been on search committees, recorded plenty of interviews, it was great. We were a very thoughtful, deliberative body, and I just appreciate every single person.”
The search committee received 15 applications for superintendent by closing on Nov. 21. The committee then deliberated on Nov. 24 and whittled down the field to eight applicants, who interviewed in executive sessions from Dec. 8-11.
Maki said he would have loved the chance to sit down with each candidate for hours and learn more about them. He said it took a superintendent search to reassure him that there were “incredible people doing incredible things, on behalf of kids, everyday.”
“You have three incredible candidates to get to know,” Maki said. “Please get to know them, be attentive to their visions and meet them where they challenge your assumptions. I don’t think this district, this community, will have the kind of an opportunity we have today for a long time.”
Dodd is currently director of Montgomery County Public Schools in Rockville, Maryland, overseeing 16 schools in a district of 211. He has been principal at the high school, middle school and elementary school levels and began his career as a fourth grade teacher. He comes with bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Western Maryland College and a doctorate of education from Johns Hopkins University.
During the meeting, Tracy Novick, Massachusetts Association of School Committees field director, informed the committee of Dodd being a finalist for superintendency of Rio Rancho Public Schools in New Mexico. On Dec. 17, Rio Rancho named Dodd as its new superintendent, meaning he must withdraw from East Longmeadow’s candidacy upon a signed contract in New Mexico.
Smith asked Novick if only two candidates would be supplemental enough in the case that Dodd was hired in New Mexico and had to withdraw from the process in East Longmeadow.
“You have a very strong pool,” Novick said. “You have candidates who clearly are interested, not simply in being a superintendent, but in being a superintendent in East Longmeadow.”
Gillen is currently the principal of West Springfield Middle School, with experience as vice principal and lead teacher in the English department. Gillen began his career in public education as a sixth grade English teacher. He has bachelor’s degrees in english and secondary education, along with a master of education in education administration from Springfield College. He also received a doctorate of education from William H. Taft University.
Menard is assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction of Holliston Public Schools. She began her career as a science teacher at the high school level and has experience as principal at both the secondary school and elementary levels.
She has a bachelor’s degree in marketing from The Ohio State University, a master of education in elementary education from Anna Maria College and a doctorate of education in educational leadership from the University of Hartford.
The next step in the process are visits in both directions. Each candidate will conduct a visit to East Longmeadow, and School Committee members will visit each candidate’s home district beginning the week of Jan. 5. Once the visits are complete, interviews to finalize the pick for a new superintendent will happen the week after.
