This week, the Chelsea School Committee made public an announcement that the Superintendent Search Screening Committee (Screening Committee) has identified and forwarded three finalists for the Superintendent of Schools position.
Following the March 15, 2019 application deadline, eighteen applications were received by the Screening Committee. On March 25, the Screening Committee convened to thoroughly review all written application materials and discuss each candidate at length. Through this process, they reached consensus to invite seven candidates for interviews. These candidates all accepted and participated in interviews held on the evenings of April 1, 2 and 3.
The 13-member Screening Committee achieved unanimous agreement in forwarding three educators as candidates for the next superintendent of the Chelsea Public Schools (listed in last name alphabetical order).
•Almudena (Almi) G. Abeyta
Currently serving as Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment for the Somerville Public Schools, Dr. Almi Abeyta brings extensive experience from multiple districts. She spent seven years as a kindergarten teacher in Albuquerque, New Mexico, followed by four years as Principal of the Donald McKay K-8 School in East Boston. She then worked as Assistant Academic Superintendent for Middle and K-8 schools in the Boston Public Schools for two and a half years. Her subsequent role as Deputy Superintendent for Teaching and Learning in the Santa Fe New Mexico Public Schools lasted five years, and she has been with Somerville since July 2017. Dr. Abeyta holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communication and Journalism from the University of New Mexico, two Master’s degrees from the Harvard Graduate School of Education (HGSE) in School Leadership and Education Policy and Management, and a Doctor of Education from HGSE in the Urban Superintendents Program.
•Ligia B. Noriega-Murphy
Ms. Noriega-Murphy presently holds the position of Assistant Superintendent of Secondary Schools in the Boston Public Schools. Her career includes three years teaching Spanish at the Donald McKay Middle School in Boston, five years as a founding faculty member and chair of the world languages department at the Boston Arts Academy, and six years as Headmaster at Excel High School in South Boston beginning in 2004. She subsequently became Assistant Academic Superintendent for High Schools and served as an Assistant Superintendent on Assignment and Headmaster of The English High School in Boston for five years starting in 2012. Ms. Noriega-Murphy earned a Bachelor of Arts in Art History from UMass Boston, a Master’s degree in Management from Cambridge College, and a Certificate of Graduate Study in Education Leadership from UMass Boston.
•Anthony A. Parker
Mr. Parker currently serves as Principal at Weston High School, a position he has held for thirteen years. Before this appointment, he worked as a high school history teacher in the Newton Public Schools for 13 years, teaching at both Newton South and Newton North High Schools. From 2000-2006 he held the role of Housemaster at Newton North High School. Prior to his career in education, he worked as a journalist. Additionally, he served as a Massachusetts Education Policy Fellow at the Rennie Center for Education Research and Policy in Boston. Mr. Parker’s education includes a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology-Anthropology from Earlham College, a Master’s degree in Teaching and Curriculum from the Harvard Graduate School of Education, and additional graduate studies at Boston College.
During the week of April 29, the school community will have an opportunity to meet these finalists when they visit Chelsea. The following week, during the week of May 6, School Committee interviews with the finalists will be open for attendance. Details regarding the schedule of district visits and School Committee interviews will be shared once finalized.
The Chelsea School Committee expressed particular gratitude to the members of the Screening Committee for their commitment and dedication throughout this search process.
The Screening Committee convened on five separate evenings to prepare, review, interview, debate, deliberate and determine the finalists to present to the Chelsea School Committee. The contributions of each member were vital in ensuring that all perspectives were heard and considered. The committee members included Jeanette Velez, Priti Johari, Monica Lamboy, Peter Pappavaselio, Margo DiBiasio, Anibal Santiago, Lisa Lineweaver, Tom Ambrosino, Louise Campanella, Kathryn Anderson, Ilana Ascher, Angelica Bachour, and Marisol Santiago.
Search consultants from the Edward J. Collins, Jr. Center for Public Management at UMass Boston provided assistance to the Screening Committee throughout this process.