Northborough's Sara Ahern Holliston's New Assistant Superintendent

Long an advocate for integrating technology into the district's curriculum, Holliston Superintendent Bradford Jackson placed expertise in that area high on the list while looking for a new assistant the past few months.

After nearly five months of searching, his ideal candidate is in place.

Based on Jackson’s recommendation, the School Committee appointed Northborough's Sara Ahern, Ed.D. as Holliston’s new assistant superintendent, curriculum, instruction and technology integration on April 7.

The assistant principal of Shrewsbury High School since 2006, Ahern will replace .

Ahern will take over on July 1. In addition to developing relationships and familiarizing herself with the schools, she hopes in her first few months to find innovative ways to use technology to improve student learning.

"Technology has obviously changed the way we lived and the way we do our jobs," said Ahern. "Students need 21st century skills so they can adapt to the modern world."

Jackson received 30 applications for the post before a screening committee interviewed 10 semifinalists. The field was then pared to four finalists, who held site individual visits and meet-and-greets late last month.

Ahern then edged out Natick Assistant Superintendent Karen LeDuc, Ph.D, Duxbury Middle School Curriculum Coordinator Joyce Edwards and Glenn Brand, pincipal of Pollard Middle School in Needham.

"I'm enthusiastic and looking forward to this opportunity," said Ahern. "The (Holliston) community is very committed and supportive and they were very welcoming throughout the process."

After beginning her career as a long-term substitute science teacher in Ashland in 1999, Ahern taught science at Lynnfield High (1999-2003), eventually taking over as department head (2001-2003). She then moved to Shrewsbury High, where she served as the director of the Science and Technology Department (2003-2006) before moving up to assistant principal.

Ahern holds a Bachelor of Arts in Biology from the University of Virginia (1993-1997) and a Master of Science Biomedical Sciences from the University of Massachusetts Medical School (1997-2000). She received her Doctorate in Educational Leadership from Boston College’s Lynch School of Education (2006-2009), where she and Jackson were briefly classmates.

Though she plans to increase the use of technology in the curriculum, Ahern said she doesn't want to tinker too much with what she believes is a working formula in Holliston.

"I'm hoping to help the district further its goals and make sure our values are aligned with the community's," said Ahern. "I don't want to break something that's already working well."