Ambrozavitch Finalist for Top Job in Amesbury Public Schools

The Amesbury Public Schools are looking for a new leader and Danvers’ Susan Ambrozavitch is one of the finalists for the top job, according to a report by the Daily News of Newburyport earlier this week.

Ambrozavitch, the current assistant superintendent and high school principal in Danvers, was not immediately available for comment on this story.

According to the Daily News, she is one of five finalists for the Amesbury superintendent’s job to replace G. David Jack, who is retiring at the end of the year. Interviews with the Amesbury School Committee will take place at the end of this month. Ambrozavitch was one of 31 applicants for the job.

Ambrozavitch has been in the Danvers school system for 19 years, first as an elementary school teacher, then principal at the in 1995, before moving to the central office and her role as assistant superintendent in 2007.

She is a 1973 graduate of Swampscott High School, has a degree in elementary education from Bridgewater State College and a master’s degree in reading education from Salem State College (now Salem State University). Ambrozavitch taught in Plymouth for three years, went to work in the private sector in the 1980s and returned to teaching in 1992 at the , where she worked in several teaching positions before becoming principal of the Smith School, according to the Salem News.

When former Principal Thomas Murray resigned in April 2010, Ambrozavitch was tapped to shoulder both of her current administrative positions while the high school undergoes major renovations. At the same time, she was pursuing a doctorate degree at the University of Massachusetts Lowell.

While Ambrozavitch handles the double duty, Principal Michael Cali is managing the building project for the district while DHS Assistant Principal Mark Strout takes on more administrative duties.

Ambrozavitch earned $133,570 in 2010, which included a stipend for her added duties. She is slated to receive a $25,000 stipend in 2012.

The Amesbury Superintendent’s job was advertised with a salary range of $155,000 to $170,000.