Source: Casey is in as Melrose Superintendent
Published on April 12th, 2006
STONEHAM, MA - Assistant Superintendent Joseph Casey will be offered the top administrative position with the Melrose school system, according to a source with intimate knowledge of the neighboring city's Superintendent search process.
Seeking to replace ousted Melrose Superintendent Rosemary Leblanc-Considine, who was dismissed from her duties three-months before her planned retirement from the post, Casey reportedly beat out 23 candidates vying for the vacancy.
Named one of two finalists by a search committee formed prior to Leblanc-Considine's forced departure from the Melrose school system, Casey reportedly earned a favorable nod for the Superintendent opening after interviewing with search committee members this Tuesday night.
Presently Stoneham's second highest ranking school administrator, Casey was chosen over second finalist Mark Kaufman, who is the Director for the Center for Educational Partnerships.
"I'm very pleased," the Assistant Superintendent commented this Monday, referring to being named a finalist for the Melrose post last week. "I think a lot of the work I've done in Stoneham has prepared me for this next step."
"Working in a number of different districts, and especially in Stoneham, has really given me the background I need to deal with some of the different and difficult issues [a Superintendent faces]. That really makes me feel that I can make the move into Melrose," Casey added.
While the veteran administrator has yet to formally be named Melrose's next educational leader, Stoneham Superintendent Dr. Joseph Connelly expects the neighboring city's School Committee to vote on the matter this Thursday.
Connelly, who declined to speculate on his right-hand man's departure until a formal vote had been taken, spoke very highly of the Stoneham school system's second-in-command.
"I'm not going to get into that," responded Connelly, when asked this Monday to comment on the likelihood that Casey would be named the neighboring city's Superintendent. "[The Melrose School Committee] promised me it would be decided before vacation next week."
"I enjoy working with Joe. Joe has been an integral part of our administrative team. He's been a tremendous help and he's very dedicated. He's just been a tremendously loyal and hard working employee," the Stoneham Superintendent added.
According to Casey, if he is formally chosen to serve as Melrose Superintendent this Thursday - as has been predicted by a source familiar with the happenings within the neighboring municipality's school district - he will very much miss the co-workers and community residents whom he got to know intimately over the years.
"I can't say enough about the people here. It's all about the community and the children. So that would definitely be the hardest things to leave behind," the Assistant Superintendent remarked.
Responsible for a number of different roles, including serving as the Stoneham school system's Title 1 Director, grant writer, and K-12 Curriculum Director, Casey has also been in charge of all of the district's personnel.
According to Connelly, his counterpart's duties in those roles have encapsulated a wide range of tasks, such as conducting final interviews for new staff, preparing employee evaluations, scrutinizing and analyzing MCAS scores, and regularly updating the learning curriculum.
Thankful for Connelly's long-standing faith in his abilities, the Assistant Superintendent believes that his superior has allowed him to flourish in a way that has prepared him for the challenges of being Superintendent.
"Dr. Connelly has really allowed me to demonstrate what I can do for this community," Casey said. "He's never handcuffed me and he's always allowed me to be involved in all aspects of management. I really appreciate that. He's been a good friend and a mentor."
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