Salem To Deliberate New Superintendent Choice At Special Meeting

SALEM, MA — Salem families could know the choice for the district's next superintendent by Wednesday night as the School Committee plans to deliberate and potentially vote on a top candidate to replace Steve Zrike, who left the district to become the state Secretary of Education this spring.

A Steering Committee narrowed the field of candidates to three finalists in June.

• Salem Interim Superintendent Named, Timeline To Fill Permanent Position Set

The finalists then took part in public interviews with the School Committee last week.

The finalists are:

Jorge S. Allen

Dr. Allen has served as the Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion for Wellesley Public Schools since 2022. Prior to that, he was the World Language and English Language Learner Coordinator for Andover Public Schools. Dr. Allen holds a Ph.D. in Spanish American Literature from Purdue University, an M.A. in Latin American Studies from Purdue University, and a B.A. in Education from Centro de Estudios Universitarios de Monterrey.

Andrew Bott

Andrew Bott has been the Head of School for Brighton High School since 2020, and served as Superintendent of Brookline Public Schools from 2016-2019. Earlier in his career, he served as Principal of the W.H. Lincoln School in Brookline, and Principal of the Orchard Gardens K-8 School in Roxbury. He holds an M.Ed. in Administration Planning and Social Policy from Harvard University and a B.A. in Sociology from Rice University.

Thomas M. Welch

Dr. Welch has been a Regional School Superintendent/Associate Superintendent for Boston Public Schools since 2015, and served as the Academic Superintendent for the district’s Alternative Schools Network from 2018-2019. Prior to that, he was the founding Principal of Nava College Preparatory High School in the Los Angeles Unified School District. He holds an Ed.D. from Boston College’s Professional School Administrator Program, an M.A. in Education from UCLA, and a B.A. in Economics and Environmental Studies from Occidental College.

Finalists participated in two visits to the city during June, with the first including school tours, meetings with students, educators, and community stakeholders, as well as a public forum.

Finalists then returned on a second date for a formal interview with the School Committee before Wednesday's scheduled vote.

The vote would offer the position to the chosen candidate, pending successful contract negotiations.

The full candidate community forums and School Committee interviews can be viewed here.