Susan Lusi Originally Offered Another Urban School District Job

The Woonsocket School Committee voted Wednesday to move forward with its second choice for interim superintendent, after its first choice — Susan Lusi — bowed out for another job.

The outgoing Portsmouth superintendent announced last week that she's accepted a one-year position as interim superintendent for Providence schools. 

Lusi was named in a two to three vote as a fill-in for Woonsocket Superintendent Robert Gerardi, who will be leaving for a position in Maynard, MA, on June 30. But after her announcement, Woonsocket has decided to go with its interview committee's second choice — Dr. Colette Trailor, former superintendent of Provincetown, MA; Sprague, CT; and Lincoln, RI, school districts. 

"I was very interested in Woonsocket and I thanked the people for offering me the position," Lusi said. But because the Providence position is for a full year, and because she has past experience in Providence, Lusi said she decided to turn Woonsocket down.

"Because of the previous tie, Providence is where my heart lay," she said.

Trailor has served as an interim in two other districts and has been a consultant for Brown University, advising female superintendents in New England, New York and the Virgin Islands.