Update 3/26: The first candidate, Russ Booth, is not moving forward to the next round. I have kept his responses in the article so students can see how he compared to the other two candidates.
Over the course of three days, the finalists for the new principal position visited OA and had Q&A sessions with both students and teachers. Though all three were amazing, they all were different in what they hoped to achieve and their prior experience. For those of you who missed the student sessions, here is a comprehensive recap of the candidate’s responses to student questions.
First, who are the finalists? The first candidate to be interviewed was Russ Booth, the assistant principal at North Attleboro High School and a former math teacher. Next was Kelly Cavanaugh, the assistant principal from Canton High School who has extensive experience in administration; last but not least was Jeff Sperling, the Medfield High School principal who has experience with mental health work and is a former guidance counselor. The questions asked at the student sessions were the same for each question, so I will be highlighting some of the most important ones and seeing how the three stack up.
What are you most looking forward to if you were the principal of Oliver Ames?
Mr. Booth said that he was most looking forward to “getting here, being here, and learning more about Oliver Ames.” He also was looking forward to attending all types of school functions and getting to know the students and OA in general.
Like Mr. Booth, Ms. Cavanaugh expressed a strong desire to get to know students, and getting out to play sports and shows so she can understand the culture of OA. She wants to know what it’s like to be a student at OA– what brings students joy and also the challenges they face. “Overall, if I become the principal of Oliver Ames, the first thing I want to do is just listen.” Finally, she brought up the idea of breakfast with the principal and an OA student advisory council so she can hear from student’s voices.
Mr. Sperling said he was looking forward to working at OA as he felt it was a community that matched his values. He’s done plenty of research on the school, and believes that it is important for a school to have a principal that matches what they stand for.
How will you make the school a more safe place for POC and LGBTQ youth?
Mr. Booth shared an anecdote about a problem he faced with discrimination in his school. When transgender students were in the Google Meets, their dead names were on display. So, he is working with them to remedy that. Notably, he did not mention POC students.
Ms. Cavanaugh expressed the importance of examining systemic racism and practicing anti-racism. She wanted to see what we have done but also what we have left to do. A major theme throughout this response, and her interview in general was student voice, particularly a diverse group of voices, as well as treating everyone with respect and dignity.
Mr. Sperling focused on some of the actions OA is already taking, like the Anti-Discrimination League, and emphasized how it was important to build on that. He focused on positive change happening the right way: coming from the students. He also talked about the importance of tolerance and student voice, but emphasized that there is no one size fits all solution and he is committed to seeing what needs to be expanded and what needs to be changed.
What would you do in response to a report of racial and sexual harassment?
Mr. Booth makes sure to see if there is intent behind it or if it is just not knowing better. He also dealt with a student who hurled a transphobic slur at another student by giving them a 5-day suspension and making sure they learned. He emphasized how much he was learning about race over the last few years and floated the idea of more conversations in advisory.
Ms. Cavanaugh said she would take any report seriously and make sure everyone is safe or in a safe space. If she finds that someone is not she would make adjustments to what they were doing during the day. She also said the most important thing she would do is listen and make sure the whole story is heard. There is no tolerance for racial or sexual harassment, and there must be both consequences and an opportunity for learning.
Mr. Sperling said that it was something he and the administrative team must address head-on and with complete transparency. It should be taken seriously and he wants to make sure people know it’s taken seriously. Like the others, he emphasized that OA is a zero tolerance zone for hatred, but that the school must live by what it says and that the consequences must be serious to send a message. While he believes that it becomes a learning experience, he looks at the impact rather than the intentions in deciding how to handle the perpetrator.
Good fit?
Mr. Booth believed his relentless pursuit of excellence for both himself and his students made him a good fit for OA. Something I felt really encapsulated his interview was his team and collaborative spirit. “I may not have the perfect answer, but I’m really going to be the first person to let you know that I’m not going to have all the right answers right away, but I’m going to support others in figuring out what is going to be the best to move our school forward.” He also felt that he was similar in nature to Mr. Paul, as he always got out there and interacted with students.
Ms. Cavanaugh believes that her greatest strength is that she is a good listener and cares so much about students like Mr. Paul. She also discussed how she is very forward-thinking in how to help people improve, like helping students identify graduate future goals and giving them the tools to help.
Mr. Sperling’s background as a mental health professional is part of what he believes makes him a good fit for the school. Some of his values like his enthusiasm for the work and his open-minded nature are traits he thinks would match and enhance the OA environment. He is excited to earn the trust of parents, students, and teachers if he is principal.
Overall, it’s hard to get a grasp of their personality just through a written description of the meeting. I found Mr. Booth as someone similar to Mr. Paul, who emphasized a team spirit. What really stood out to me about Ms. Cavanaugh was her cheery personality and focused on student voice. And Mr. Sperling had a warm personality and gave specific answers to OA. Overall, the school is sure to have a tough decision with three great candidates.