By Carol Britton Meyer

Following three hours of interviews with finalists, the school committee on Wednesday night hired Michael Jette, current leader of the Litchfield, N.H., school district, as Hull’s next superintendent.

Forty-eight citizens were on the Zoom call at one point, with 39 remaining until the school committee made the final decision on who will replace current Superintendent Judith Kuehn, who will retire at the end of this school year.

Each of the finalists – Jette, Michael Tempesta, and Sarah Shannon – were asked six questions, based in large part on community feedback throughout the search process.

Click here for the resumes of all three superintendent finalists

“We have three fantastic candidates,” said school committee member Kyle Conley, who chaired the screening committee.

Jette has 32 years of educational experience, including as former superintendent of the Bedford, N.H., school district. During his interview, Jette said he’s looking toward the next step in his career and is hoping it would be his “last stop,” with the intention of dedicating another 10 years to this work.

“Before I applied for this position, I didn’t know where Hull was,” he said. “I didn’t realize it’s like a unicorn community with its close proximity to Boston and the ocean.”

Jette also said he thinks “smaller is better” with regard to the size of Hull’s school system, allowing for more opportunity to have conversations with people face to face, rather than over the telephone.

In addition, he finds the implementation of a school consolidation plan, which is underway for the Hull Public Schools, of particular interest.

“This will cause a lot of stress, and I think the easiest way [to address these issues] is to recognize the people behind those emotions, engage with them as to where they are, and to do everything possible to set folks up for success in the new environment,” Jette said. “It’s all about relationships and making sure everyone is part of the team.”

When asked what he would aim to accomplish in his first 90 days on the job, Jette said he would in part focus on where the district has been and build upon that.

“I don’t think anyone is looking to make any drastic changes,” he said.

He also said he would work with the school committee to establish goals and objectives, setting priorities for “measurable outcomes.”

Shannon a close second

Cohasset resident Sarah Shannon, who came in a close second in a straw poll that was taken before the final vote and deliberations by the school committee following the interviews, currently serves as assistant superintendent of teaching and learning for the Canton Public Schools. She is the former assistant principal of the Duxbury Middle School and former principal of the Gates Intermediate School in Scituate.

The third candidate, Michael Tempesta, is the current superintendent of the Claremont and Unity school districts in New Hampshire and former superintendent of the Saugus Public Schools.

The committee made some favorable comments about Tempesta related to his broad experience in collaborative and public school positions, his experience in the role of superintendent, his effective work in restructuring schools, his willingness to start developing an entry plan on a per-diem basis before his contract began, his focus on school safety, and his sensitivity to meeting the needs of all students, with varying needs. However, the committee decided to focus on the top two candidates based on the informal poll.

Jette was praised for his more than 30 years of education experience, his role in a net-zero middle school project, and for his “look, learn, and listen” approach in his role of superintendent.

“He has a warm, friendly, personable manner and a nice tone,” school committee member Ernest Minelli said.

Positive feedback from students

Other strong points noted by the committee were that he seemed invested in getting to know the Hull community; that during Wednesday’s forums before the interviews, students made positive comments about him; his support for helping to create individual plans for success among students; his “people skills and calm, reassuring style;” his intention to build upon existing Hull Public Schools strengths while making improvements; and that he doesn’t consider the school system “to be in a state of crisis.”

Those providing feedback about the candidates “were impressed and unanimously positive about his potential to be the next leader of our district and offered across the board support for his candidacy,” Conley said.

Jette also has built “well-rounded relationships” throughout his career and has “worked through the ranks,” school committee member Liliana Hedrick said.

What stood out about Shannon to the committee are her leadership skills and ability to build relationships, her knowledge of the Massachusetts School Building Authority program, experience with contract negotiations, her “passion for Hull,” willingness to take risks, and focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Overall, the committee agreed that they could envision either Jette or Shannon being successful as the next superintendent, and that it was a hard choice.

When a motion to enter contract negotiations with Jette was made by Conley following the straw vote, the outcome was 4 to 1 in favor, with Chair David Twombly against the motion.

“It’s nothing personal,” he said.

When Conley called for a vote of reconsideration, with the goal of reaching a unanimous vote, Twombly changed his vote in favor of Jette.

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