Superintendent-Director Search Update 5/15/2018
On Tuesday, May 15, 2018, the memo below was emailed to Families, Students, and Staff.
Dear Essex North Shore Agricultural & Technical School District Community,
We are pleased to share with you some important updates regarding the School Committee’s Superintendent-Director Search.
Candidate Updates
On Thursday, May 10, 2018, the Superintendent-Director Search Committee presented two outside finalists in addition to the one internal candidate for the Superintendent-Director position. We are pleased to announce the finalists: Christopher Cummings, Leo DeSimone Jr., and Heidi T. Riccio, Ed.D. Please read additional information regarding the finalists below:
Christopher Cummings has been president of St. Peter-Marian Junior/Senior High School since 2016. He has also served as director of career technical education for the Waltham Public Schools and assistant superintendent/principal at Blackstone Valley Regional Technical High School. Mr. Cummings began his educational career as a Social Studies Teacher in 2000.
Mr. Cummings has master’s degrees in education administration and history from Providence College and a bachelor’s degree in history/secondary education from Hofstra University.
Leo DeSimone Jr. is the principal/director of career technical education at Somerville High School’s Center for Career and Technical Education and has also served as acting headmaster at Somerville High School since 2017. He is also a graduate studies adjunct professor at Fitchburg State University. Mr. DeSimone previously worked as associate principal and director of career and technical education at Weymouth High School and vocational coordinator at Minuteman Regional High School. Mr. DeSimone began his career in education as an Automotive Technology instructor at Minuteman Regional High School in 1989.
Mr. DeSimone has a master’s degree in occupational education from Fitchburg State University and a bachelor’s degree in education from the University of Massachusetts.
Heidi Riccio has been the director of career and technical education at Essex Tech since July 2017. She is the former principal/director of Medford Vocational Technical High School and also worked as director of career and technical education at Greater Lawrence Technical School. Dr. Riccio began her educational career as a Hospitality & Culinary Arts instructor at Greater Greater Lawrence Technical School in 1997.
Dr. Riccio has a doctorate in educational leadership from Nova Southeastern University; a CAGS in educational leadership from Salem State University, a master’s degree in occupational education from Fitchburg State University; and a bachelor’s degree in hospitality sales and meeting management from Johnson & Wales University.
Timeline Updates
With the announcement of the candidates, there are a few updates to the timeline outlined below.
Site Visits: Each candidate will host two school committee members for a half-day-long site visit of each candidate’s current school district during which time they will be able to interact with students, staff, and community members.
– Thursday, May 17, 2018 – Site Visit to Sommerville High School’s Center for Career & Technical Education for Leo DiSimone
– Monday, May 21, 2018 – Site Visit to Essex Technical High School for Heidi Riccio
– Tuesday, May 22, 2018 – Site Visit to St. Peter-Marian Junior/Senior High School in Worcester for Christopher Cummings
– Wednesday, May 23, 2018 – School Committee Meeting to review site visits
Dates and times for final candidate interviews conducted by the school committee will be forthcoming.
Superintendent-Director Search Update 5/21/2018
On Monday, May 21, 2018, the memo below was emailed to Families, Students, and Staff.
Dear Essex North Shore Agricultural & Technical School District Community,
We are pleased to share with you some important updates regarding the School Committee’s Superintendent-Director Search.
Candidate Interviews
The School Committee will interview all three candidates following the schedule below. Each candidate will spend the day in the district meeting with multiple groups such as teachers, office staff, and administration. At 5:00 pm there will be a candidate meet-and-greet in the Maple Street Bistro. This will allow community members, parents, students, and staff to meet the candidate and ask questions they may have. At 6:30 pm the School Committee will publically interview the candidate in the Library Media Center. Since Dr. Riccio was previously interviewed, Thursday evening she will only present a statement to the school committee and answer any questions that were not previously asked during her initial interview on March 29, 2018.
Thursday, May 24, 2018 – Christopher Cummings
Wednesday, May 30, 2018 – Leo DiSimone
Thursday, May 31, 2018, – Heidi T. Riccio, Ed.D.
Superintendent-Director Appointment
Following the final interview on Thursday, May 31, 2018, the school committee will vote to appoint a Superintendent-Director.
Other important updates and more information about the Superintendent-Director search, such as candidate profiles can be found on our website at: http://www.essextech.net/d
