Use this search box to find articles that have run in our newspapers over the last several years.
Date: 11/4/2020
WESTHAMPTON – As teachers and students in Westhampton and Southampton are still adjusting to change due to COVID-19, the head of their school system is doing the same.
Brought back from retirement, Michael Sullivan of East Longmeadow was welcomed as interim Superintendent of Schools to the Hampshire Regional School Districts in September.
Sullivan is a UMass graduate, where he received a degree in management. For several years, Sullivan worked as a program evaluator for the U.S. Government Accountability Office in Boston, Washington D.C. and Panama. However, his dream was always to be a history teacher. After receiving his masters, Sullivan became a social studies teacher at John F. Kennedy Middle School in Northampton, for 16 years.
Following this position, Sullivan was assistant principal at Northampton High School for two years. Adding another switch to his career path, he became Principal at Glenbrook Middle School in Longmeadow.
From 2011 to 2013, he was the assistant superintendent for learning, at Longmeadow Public Schools. In 2013, he then took the position of superintendent of schools at the Gill-Montague Regional School District. He served seven years there and decided that the 2019-2020 school year would be his last.
In June, Sullivan retired, assuming that his working days had come to an end. That was up until he was contacted by Collaborative For Educational Services.
“They reached out and informed me they were looking for an interim superintendent and asked if I was interested in applying,” Sullivan said.
With original hopes of traveling after retirement, the pandemic altered his plans. At the time, he was also working as a coach and mentor to two future superintendents.
“I wasn’t doing the fun things I expected to do. I was available and I knew I could contribute, based on my experience with other schools,” Sullivan stated.
Because of this, he accepted the position as Hampshire Regional’s interim superintendent. He claimed that this position has been different, because he doesn’t have his “own personal agenda.” The tasks he is accomplishing are going in the direction of what’s needed for a new superintendent, who is expected to replace him next year.
One of the main concerns right now is COVID-19. “I am largely helping five districts respond to the pandemic,” said Sullivan. As they all change their learning volumes, it’s his responsibility to assist in planning from hybrid to in person classes. There are also many closing metrics to consider, if there is a spike in cases in the area.
The district has a maximum for in-person learning, but as Sullivan said, “It’s much better than remote learning.” Health guidance has been taken into very careful consideration and they have been “pundit and balanced” in their approach. Sullivan claimed that he’s learned a lot about contact tracing and air quality standards. All of this is crucial in keeping the schools open.
With four elementary schools and a middle/high to run, the job as interim is very time consuming. Sullivan describes it as complex. “I help the administration make decisions on topics such as curriculum, personnel, and even thinking quickly through situations.”
His overall goal is to navigate through these trying times and help all five school committees work more effectively together.
In the short time Sullivan has been a part of Hampshire Regional School Districts, he has enjoyed every minute.
“I appreciate the culture of this district. The people are very professional, collaborative and student centered. Everyone cares and is respectful of each other.”
Sullivan’s interim position will be up in June, 2021, when he will retire for good.
“I plan to be retired. I want to play golf, work around my house and continue coaching new superintendents,” Sullivan told Reminder Publishing.
Education is important to all students in the community. For Sullivan, he looks forward to working on his list beyond the pandemic response, and teaching and learning with people as he hopes our educational system can return to its normal routine next year, and he can, too.