Assistant Supt. accepts top job in Cohasset

A search is underway to find Canton Public Schools’ new second in command following the news that Sarah Shannon, assistant superintendent for teaching and learning, is leaving at the end of June to become the superintendent in the Cohasset school system.

Canton Superintendent Derek Folan made the announcement at the beginning of last Thursday’s School Committee meeting. The news comes just weeks after Stephen Marshall, assistant superintendent for finance and operations, announced that he would be leaving to take a similar position in the Whitman-Hanson school district. Stepping up in Marshall’s place will be Brian Lynch, currently the assistant director of finance in the Natick schools.

Sarah Shannon

Marshall will assist Lynch with the transition prior to his July 1 start date, but the hire was made official last week with the approval of a new three-year contract for Lynch. Folan said he is also close to wrapping up his search for a new director of student services and hopes to announce his selection at the next School Committee meeting on May 9 or possibly sooner.

Folan described the news of Shannon’s departure as “very bittersweet,” pointing to her expertise as an administrator and prior contributions as Galvin Middle School principal. Notably, Shannon was instrumental in writing Canton’s application to the Mass. School Building Authority (MSBA) for the GMS building project, which was finally approved in 2022 after several previous attempts.

“We are thrilled for Sarah Shannon as she heads into the Cohasset superintendent role on July 1,” said Folan. “This has been a career goal for Sarah, and to have it happen in Cohasset — her hometown — is pretty special.”

On the other hand, Folan said the Canton school system will have to part with an “extraordinary and innovative educational leader.”

“Sarah played a critical role in energizing the Galvin Middle School as principal and advancing the learning in that building,” he said. “And then, as the assistant superintendent of teaching and learning, she revolutionized our professional learning in the district and offered great mentorship to our principals and assistant principals and our district administration and coordinators.”

Folan added, “She has a unique ability to be visionary, while also being so present and thoughtful in day-to-day decisions. Cohasset made an excellent decision, and it was an honor to work with Sarah.”

Folan said his team will be conducting a “full and comprehensive search” to find Shannon’s replacement, and both internal and external candidates for the position will be considered. “We will have an interview committee that will have stakeholders from the school community,” he said, “and our hope is to have the position filled by June for a July 1 start.”

In other news from the April 25 meeting:

* Information on bus registration for the 2024-25 school year was recently emailed to parents/guardians, and the deadline to complete the registration form is June 7. The form must be completed every year whether a student requires transportation or not. Applicable invoices will be sent via MySchoolBucks by the end of June. Parents or guardians with questions should contact transportation@cantonma.org …

See this week’s Citizen for more highlights from the April 25 School Committee meeting. Click here to order your subscription today.

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Posted by Mike Berger on May 2 2024. Filed under News, Schools. Both comments and pings are currently closed.