The school committee voted 4-0 to approve a five-year contract for Erin McMahon to become the next superintendent public schools in Saugus.
“Every metric tells us that Erin McMahon will be an outstanding superintendent,” said school board member Ryan Fisher.
President Tom Whittredge withdrew from the vote, as his sister is the executive director of student personnel services and special education for the Saugus School District.
School board member Dennis Gould offered an enthusiastic “yes” in backing a contract for McMahon.
“I’m so excited for Erin McMahon to be our next superintendent,” Gould said.
McMahon will earn $196,000 in the first year of the contract.
Fisher thanked Superintendent of Schools Dr. David DeRuosi Jr. for reaching out to McMahon to try to make the transition as smooth as possible at the central office.
“He was incredibly helpful in making sure [McMahon] knows where everything is and she’s not blindsided by anything,” Fisher said.
DeRuosi is retiring at the end of June after a five-year stint as superintendent of Saugus Public Schools.
McMahon accepted the job offer – pending successful contract negotiations – after the school board informed her that she was the choice of four finalists for the position of superintendent.
“I am thrilled to be the next Superintendent of Saugus Public Schools,” McMahon said at the time. “I believe my experience is a perfect match for what the Saugus community is looking for in a superintendent, and I look forward to working with students and families to ensure that every student is successful in their studies.”
Why is Saugus a good candidate?
McMahon called Saugus a “jewel” of a community with an incredibly rich history that she hopes to build on as superintendent of schools.
During his interview with the school board, McMahon explained how one of his strengths is taking a school district’s vision and making it a reality.
Every student should learn in a building they want to go to and feel proud to attend, McMahon said.
As an administrator, McMahon firmly believes that every child deserves access to an equal and excellent education.
McMahon said she has a proven track record of uniting constituencies in the pursuit of student success and improving student social well-being.
“I have a fire and a spirit and a will and an ability to get the job done, but I do it in a collaborative way,” McMahon said.
People trust her because she’s telling the truth, McMahon said, noting that she’s looking to build bridges and chart a common path, but won’t hesitate to stick to her guns on issues it deems important.
If a potential conflict surfaces, McMahon said she likes to reach out to the school community before an issue begins to foster trust and understanding.
McMahon said she intended to bring a sense of calm, purpose and joy to the school district through her work as superintendent.
To be truly great, you have to model the way and encourage others to be great themselves, McMahon said.
What is McMahon’s past experience, his upbringing?
McMahon is currently a Senior Advisor to the Commissioner of the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and previously served as Deputy Chief of Academics and Innovation for Denver Public Schools.
During her career in education, McMahon worked as a regional superintendent in Denver, was principal of the Henry Street School for International Studies in New York, vice-principal at William W. Niles Middle School in New York. , and taught English as a Second Language in Washington, DC
Additionally, McMahon has spent the past four years teaching graduate-level management courses in instructional leadership at Columbia University and served as program director/director of studies for the KIPP Foundation.
McMahon received a Bachelor of Arts in History from Yale University and earned a Master of Business Administration in Finance and Operations from Cornell University and a Master of Science in Educational Leadership from Pace University.
A resident of Marblehead, McMahon enjoys hiking, running and listening to the Boston Symphony Orchestra in her spare time. She was a member of the Yale University women’s soccer team that won the Ivy League championship and still plays the sport today.