Old Rochester Regional to promote assistant superintendent to top role
Mar 5, 2020
Michael Nelson at his interview for the position on Feb. 29. Photo by: Grace Ballenger
School employees and community members packed the audience to hear the outcome. Photo by: Grace Ballenger
MATTAPOISETT — Old Rochester Regional Assistant Superintendent Michael Nelson has been selected to succeed retiring Superintendent Doug White.
At a Thursday, March 5 meeting, the Old Rochester Regional School Committee and representatives of the Tri-Town school committees selected Nelson from a group of three finalists after much discussion.
Informed of the choice by phone, Nelson immediately accepted, pending contract negotiations.
In his public job interview on Saturday, Feb. 29, Nelson said his first priorities would be to fill his role and hire a business manager, design a capital plan (possibly with a consultant), continue documenting curriculum, better align elementary schools and work on the transition into junior High School.
He will see himself as successful in implementing the district’s Vision 2023 strategic plan if he can incorporate project-based learning and more hands-on professional development. Asked how he would help students who may not be able to complete college, Nelson said he would work to connect with the local business community, where he said “there are partnerships that we have not even thought about that are untapped.”
The other finalists were Dr. Gary Reese, superintendent of Westport Public Schools, and Michelle Roy, a longtime ORR employee now serving as assistant superintendent in Dartmouth.
Nelson has served in the district for six years, originally as Director of Student Services. He was appointed as assistant superintendent in October.
On the Old Rochester Regional Committee six members voted in favor of Nelson, and three for Reese. Of the school committee representatives, five members voted for Nelson, while three voted for Reese.
School Committee member April Rios opened up the positive comments on Nelson by saying he is the “leader that we want and need. The amount of grant money that he brings in doesn’t get enough acknowledgment.”
However Sharon Hartley thought the town had “two candidates who meet the standards we established, and one who exceeds” them in Reese, She valued that he is skilled in reaching out to community, was a classroom teacher (a key component for Rochester School Committee), and was drawn to the socio-emotional component of education.
Heather Burke said that she “thought we would be opening up the search again,” and was pleased that the school district has a good enough reputation to attract the best and the brightest in candidates.
She favored Dr. Reese because of the way he “educates the entire community, not just those in the building.”
Other supporters like that he is comfortable with complexity and has budget experience.
Nichole Danie supported Michael Nelson in part because she had heard people in the school district go “on and on in support for Mr. Nelson,” she said.
Mattapoisett School Committee member Carole Clifford said she supported Nelson because he has “been here, stayed here, worked hard here,” adding among other things that he “listens and doesn’t judge right away.”
When it came to interacting with students during his interview, Nelson wanted to know their names and include them in future decisions, School Committee member Tina Rood said. She also pointed out that Nelson is respected at the state level.
James Muse spoke passionately in support of Mr. Nelson. He has direct experience with Nelson as Director of Student Services, because his son has disabilities. He called Nelson someone within the district who “stepped into enormous shoes in tough circumstances.”
Committee members Stefan Gabriel, Cary Humphrey and Shannon Finning were on the fence about which candidate to select, but all three ultimately voted for Nelson.
Gabriel said he cast a vote for Nelson because he didn’t want to pick a candidate that some school committee members would dislike. Humphrey called Nelson “a rising star.”
The meeting room was packed with attendees, but they were not allowed to comment until after the decision was made. The announcement, however, was met with cheers and applause.
