Theresa McGuinness Returns To Marblehead As Interim Superintendent

MARBLEHEAD, MA — Dr. Theresa McGuinness, who lives in Swampscott and was the principal of the Village School in Marblehead from 2012 through 2016 before leaving for Watertown
Public Schools, is returning Marblehead for at least the next year as the interim superintendent of schools.

The School Committee voted 4-1 on Wednesday night to offer McGuinness the position through June 2024 pending the search for a full-time superintendent — a position McGuinness said during her public interview that she would like to be considered for as well.

McGuinness has been the assistant superintendent in Watertown for the past seven years.

She was chosen over Dr. Jannell D. Pearson-Campbell, who was the assistant director of special education at the Waltham Public Schools from 2015 through 2020 and has since served as the assistant superintendent of teaching and learning at Old Rochester and interim superintendent at Northampton Public Schools.

McGuinness also got the nod over a late push from School Committee member Meagan Taylor to consider trying to convince acting superintendent Michelle Cresta to stay on in the interim role through the full school year after she filled the void left when the School Committee negotiated the resignation of former superintendent John Buckey with two years remaining on his contract this summer.

Cresta had been on the search committee for the interim superintendent after indicating she was not interested in the job for the full year — a sentiment she reiterated on Wednesday.

"I am honored that this discussion even came about," Cresta said. "My career aspiration, whether my acting/interim ends in a month or ends nine months from now is to not continue as superintendent. I do want to go back to my role (as district finance and operations director). My strong point is not curriculum. I am learning it — whereas your other two candidates have to learn the other side of the superintendent position. A successful superintendent has a curriculum side and also has an operational budget.

"So any of your candidates, including myself, who are being talked about will need to learn things on the job. ... Yes, if I am asked I would stay on. It is not my first preference. I would rather have someone else in that position."

McGuinness drew widespread praise in reference checks for her data-driven decision-making and her communication skills.

School Committee member Brian Ota said McGuinness was described to him as "very smart" and "one of the most dynamic leaders they've ever had" in Watertown.

School Committee member Jennifer Schaeffner said McGuinness was described to her as having a "warm demeanor" whose "focus is always what is right for the students." She said she was told that McGuinness will use data to make decisions but has the ability to put them into practice in a personable way that is not micromanaging.

School Committee member Alison Taylor said she was impressed with how McGuinness described her views on diversity, equity and inclusion as not only important for students but that there was a value in also educating the public on how and why it is being introduced in schools.

"She is the strongest candidate for us at this time in Marblehead and moving us forward," Schaeffner said in endorsing McGuinness.

School Committee Chair Sarah Fox, who ultimately voted in favor of McGuinness, said she was concerned for any of the outside candidates coming into the district considering "the vitriol in our community right now."

"Our students deserve that whoever is coming in deserves a clean shot at this."

Fox previously said she expects the search for a full-time superintendent to begin this winter.

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. X/Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)