NEWBURYPORT — Out of 45 applicants vying for the position of Molin Upper Elementary School principal, the district announced yesterday that three finalists have been selected as the most qualified candidates.
A decision on who will take over the duties of departing Principal Dave Archambault could come as early as next week and follows a two-month vetting process that is expected to wrap up this week, according to Assistant Superintendent Deirdre Farrell.
"There were over 45 applicants for the position," Farrell said yesterday. "We screened those resumes and credentials and selected eight candidates to interview. Then we put together a team of four teachers, three parents, two administrators and the school secretary and conducted the eight interviews to narrow those eight down to three finalists."
The three finalists are Christy Hamilton of Manchester, N.H., a K-5 language arts/social studies curriculum specialist in the Natick school system since 2003; Lois Costa of Hampton, N.H., the assistant principal of the Adeline C. Marston School in Hampton since 2000; and Lori Gallivan of Saugus, who has served as the Nock Middle School's assistant principal since 2007.
"(Gallivan) was the only internal applicant for the position out of the 45," Farrell said.
Farrell said site visits to the candidates' respective school districts were being conducted yesterday and today by Superintendent Kevin Lyons, a teacher, an administrator and a parent. Where Lyons would normally make the appointment decision following those site visits, given his own looming departure to the Hudson School District in July, Farrell said the three candidates are being put through a second round of interviews by the school's director of curriculum, the special education director and the Brown School principal. Lyons will make the appointment following consultation with his parent/staff search team.
"We tried to involve as many constituents as possible and have done a thorough, thorough search process," Farrell said. "There could be an appointment as soon as next week. (Lyons) is going to want to speak with constituents from each group that we've put together."
Hamilton holds bachelor's and master's degrees in education humanities from Ohio State University, is licensed as a principal/assistant principal ages pre-K through grade 6. Hamilton's additional teaching experiences include language arts/social studies curriculum specialist in Wayland Public Schools; language arts/social studies curriculum specialist in Brookline Public Schools; and middle school curriculum specialist in Westwood Public Schools.
Costa holds a bachelor's degree in family consumer studies and early childhood education from the University of New Hampshire and an master's degree in elementary teacher certification from the University of New Hampshire. Costa was a grade 3 classroom teacher at the Reeds Ferry School in Merrimack, N.H., from 1989 to 1994 and served as curriculum facilitator at the Reeds Ferry School. Her Massachusetts license is pending.
Gallivan holds a bachelor's degree in liberal studies from Westfield State College, a master's degree in education from Cambridge College and an educational leadership licensure program from Gordon College. Prior to coming to Newburyport, Gallivan was a teacher in the Lynn Public Schools, holding different positions as history teacher at the Alternative High School, acting principal at the Career Development Center, Turning Points presenter and professional development instructor.
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