Westford Eyes Four Finalists To Lead School District

WESTFORD, MA — The town is edging closer to finding someone to lead the district when Superintendent Bill Olsen steps down at the end of the year.

The Westford School Committee announced they'd narrowed the search to four finalists this week. All four have doctorates, including a familiar face around Westford.

"Over the next few weeks, the finalists will be virtually visiting with WPS stakeholders," the school committee said in an announcement. "After each session, the Massachusetts Association of School Committees will provide participants with an online form for feedback that will be shared with the School Committee."

Margaret Adams: For the past nine years, Adams has worked in the Melrose Public Schools district, the past eight years as assistant superintendent for teaching and learning. Before that she worked for six years in Malden, and five years for Brockton Public Schools. She's been a principal, a department head for ESL services, and an elementary school teacher.

Christopher Chew: For the past seven years he's been principal of the Stony Brook School here in Westford. Before that he was a headmaster at North Middlesex Regional High School in Townsend for three years, an assistant principal for three years in that same district. Before that he was a theater arts teacher at Tyngsborough High School He's worked as an English teacher, an artistic director for a nonprofit he cofounded, and lists Olsen as one of his references.

Matthew Janger: For the past eight years he has been principal of Arlington High School. Before that he spent four years as principal at a high school in Maine, and spent eight years in Michigan working as an English teacher and principal in Ann Arbor.

Michele Shannon: For the past four years, she's been the executive vice president of client services of the New York City Leadership Academy. Before that she was a district administrator for Boston Public Schools for two years, has experience working in a New York City charter school, as an administrator in a Los Angeles school district.

The School Committee will interview all four finalists after their meet and greets with the community. Then it will meet to deliberate and vote at 7 p.m. Thursday, March 18.

If you're interested in attending one of their interviews or events see the school committee schedule and links to register to attend:

Thursday, March 11 - Dr. Margaret Adams
5pm - SEPAC (click the link to register)
6pm - Parents and Community Meet and Greet (click the link to register)
7:30pm - Interview with School Committee (click the link to register)
Friday, March 12 - Dr. Michele Shannon
5pm - SEPAC (click the link to register)
6pm - Parents and Community Meet and Greet (click the link to register)
7:30pm - Interview with School Committee (click the link to register)
Tuesday, March 16 - Dr. Christopher Chew
5pm - SEPAC (click the link to register)
6pm - Parents and Community Meet and Greet (click the link to register)
7:30pm - Interview with School Committee (click the link to register)
Wednesday, March 17 - Dr. Matthew Janger
5pm - SEPAC (click the link to register)
6pm - Parents and Community Meet and Greet (click the link to register)
7:30pm - Interview with School Committee (click the link to register)
Thursday March 18
7:00pm - School Committee Deliberation and Vote (click the link to register)

Previously: Westford School Committee Member Quits Mid-Meeting