ANDOVER — The finalists for the superintendent's job include the current Andover assistant superintendent and superintendents from Gloucester, Hamilton-Wenham and a rural district in Maine.
"They were all eminently qualified, eminently committed to educating children," Bill Gibson, a member of the committee who screened the 32 people who applied to succeed outgoing Superintendent Claudia Bach, said after last night's School Committee meeting.
Michael Gilbert, field director for the Massachusetts Association of School Committees, which served as the consultant for the search, announced the four finalists. They are Andover Assistant Superintendent Susan Nicholson, Gloucester Superintendent Christopher Farmer, Hamilton-Wenham Regional Superintendent Marinel McGrath — who used to be the Andover assistant superintendent — and Kelly Clenchy, superintendent of Rural School Unit #26 in Maine — a regional school district for the communities of Orono, Veazie and Glenburn.
"They have a great reputation and the community is very supportive of education," Clenchy said of Andover during an interview. "I have a good, solid base of teaching. I think they're really looking for someone with a good instructional background who understands how kids learn."
Clenchy spent 10 years teaching in Alberta, Canada, according to his resume.
Nicholson was the North Andover High School principal before coming to Andover in 2007. She said she would provide stability for Andover.
"I've spent a lot of time building relationships. As in any leadership position, it's all about the relationships that you've built along the way," she said.
Farmer and McGrath did not return calls seeking comment.
The pay range for the job is $180,000 to $200,000, said School Committee Chairwoman Debra Silberstein.
The search committee met with 10 of the 32 applicants, and these four people emerged. The School Committee plans to host the candidates in Andover, interview them, and visit their districts.
Silberstein suggested having the candidates answer a question in writing.
"Being that one of the criteria is communication, I'd actually like to see how they write," she said.
School Committee member David Birnbach suggested having the finalists each submit a tape recording from a School Committee meeting in their district from when they think they presented something well.
Human Resources Director Candace Hall suggested dining with the finalists.
"You really learn a lot about a candidate by breaking bread with them," she said.
Bach, 66, has said she plans to step down, but continue working in education.
The finalists
Name: Kelly Clenchy
Experience: Superintendent of Rural School Unit #26 in Maine, 2004 to present; superintendent of Herbert School Division in Saskatchewan, Canada, 2000 to 2004; principal of Grasslands School District in Alberta, Canada, 1987 to 2000
Highest degree: Master's, Gonzaga University
Name: Christopher Farmer
Experience: Superintendent in Gloucester, 2003 to present; principal of Redwood Middle School Saratoga USD in Saratoga, Calif., 1997 to 2003; superintendent in Coventry, England, 1987 to 1994
Highest degree: Master's, Cambridge University
Name: Marinel McGrath
Experience: Superintendent in Hamilton-Wenham Regional School District, 2002 to present; assistant superintendent in Andover, 1995 to 2002; director of curriculum in Newburyport, 1986 to 1995.
Highest degree: Doctorate, Boston University
Name: Susan Nicholson
Experience: Assistant superintendent in Andover, 2007 to present; principal of North Andover High School, 1999 to 2007; assistant principal of North Andover High School, 1997 to 1999
Highest degree: Doctorate, University of Massachusetts Lowell
