School Committee moves forward with superintendent evaluation

  The School Committee should have its evaluation of Superintendent of Schools Dr. Dianne Kelly completed by September, according to committee member Stacy Bronsdon-Rizzo.

  “It is important to conduct a thoughtful, fair, and useful evaluation of the superintendent,” said Bronsdon-Rizzo. “It’s both important and challenging, and this is not about our personal opinions, it’s about the district.”

  There are five areas the evaluation covers, including a self-assessment, goal setting, implementation, a formative assessment, and a summative assessment.

  “At this point, we have received the evidence from the superintendent to review,” said Bronsdon-Rizzo.

  In addition, this year the School Committee voted to receive some feedback from identified departments within the school system on areas such as interpersonal leadership and how they believe the superintendent’s strengths and weaknesses are perceived by others.

  The superintendent is typically evaluated by the School Committee every year, but due to the pandemic, this will be Kelly’s first evaluation in two years.

  While the final evaluation is still a month or two away, Kelly was praised by several committee members at Tuesday’s meeting for her recent selection as president of the Massachusetts Association of School Superintendents.

  “She has been on many of their steering committees and has been a tremendous advocate at the State House for public education, and she has also been chair of the Urban District Committee,” said Bronsdon-Rizzo. “I am honored to have her represent us, and I am sure the rest of us as a whole do.”

  School Committee member Carol Tye said Kelly has made a positive impression for as long as she has been in the district.

  “When she first came to Revere High School and I was teaching, I asked the kids, ‘What’s the new math teacher like?’” said Tye. “They said she is hard, but that she is fair and helpful. That’s the way you still are, Dianne, and I’m very proud of you.”

  The Massachusetts Association of School Committees was formed in 1973 and is dedicated to professional and advocacy concerns of superintendents and assistant superintendents.