Vineyard public schools superintendent Richard Smith last week offered the Edgartown job to Kate Campbell, the current Attleboro High School principal.
A mainland high school principal with ties to the Vineyard has been picked to lead the Edgartown School after a months-long search.
Vineyard public schools superintendent Richard Smith last week offered the Edgartown job to Kate Campbell, the current Attleboro High School principal. Ms. Campbell, whose family owns homes on the Island, is expected to start on July 1, taking over for interim principal John Stevens.
“I’m looking forward to becoming a contributing member of the Edgartown community,” Ms. Campbell said. “Throughout my career I have admired and followed all the Island schools and the work they do. I am so proud to now call this home.”
Ms. Campbell was one of three finalists for the job. The other two were Deborah DeBettencourt, a 32-year veteran of the Edgartown School who is wrapping up her first year as school assistant principal, and Justine DeOliveira, the current assistant principal at the regional high school.
Kate Campbell poses at her new school.
Kate Campbell poses at her new school.
Ms. Campbell’s experience as a principal and the glowing praise from her colleagues pushed her to the top of the list, Mr. Smith said.
“People at her school described her as transformational… One person said ‘She makes me want to be a better educator,’” he said. “You don’t hear those things often.”
Ms. DeBettencourt will be staying on as assistant principal, the superintendent said. Pairing her deep roots in the community with Ms. Campbell’s history as a leader will be a win for the school, he added.
“Kate’s experience in the principal position and the tools she has built over many years and Debbie’s knowledge of the school community and the trust she has built over many years make for a very strong administration team,” he wrote in a letter that went out to parents.
Ms. Campbell said she is excited to work with Ms. DeBettencourt and the entire team at Edgartown School.
She has frequented the Island her whole life, and even got married in Saint Elizabeth’s Church in Edgartown. Ms. Campbell said working at an Island school was always in her plans.
“Once I became an educator, I always felt this would be a place I’d love to be able to come and be a part of…” Ms. Campbell said. “If someone said, ‘Kate, what [is] your dream?’ It would be that I’d be able to come and work on Martha’s Vineyard.”
Ms. Campbell’s parents have a home in Katama and her sister also owns a house on-Island. For the past couple of years Ms. Campbell and her husband, who will be working as a manager at Rockfish when they move in June, have rented a house in the off-season.
“It’s beautiful in the summer, but I just think that for us, it’s about community and getting to know people,” Ms. Campbell said. “One of the things that I love best about working in a school is building that community and getting to know people.”
Though Ms. Campbell has been leading Attleboro high school for the past three years, her core career has been at the elementary level. She worked in elementary schools for 30 years, starting as a special education teacher and working her way up to principal at Willett Elementary School in Attleboro.
She was asked to join Attleboro High School the year the high school got a new building, and in her first year led the staff and 2,100 students through the transition. Now, she’s excited to go back to her roots.
“Although I love high school and I love the work that we’ve been able to do, it was really nice to be back with this age group,” she said.
The three finalists visited the school for a full day where they were asked questions by staff, parents and students. In March, nine of the search committee members visited each finalist in their current place of work to get a sense for their leadership.
Though there may be some hesitancy about a newcomer to the school, Mr. Smith felt that staff would be supportive of Ms. Campbell.
“Sometimes there’s a little anxiety,” he said. “That’s natural.”
Ms. Campbell said she’s not stepping in with sweeping goals. She wants to listen and learn all the traditions, and once she’s got her footing, she plans to collaborate with the community to build upon the existing initiatives that are going well.
“I think it’s a transition time for the Edgartown school,” Ms. Campbell said. “I want to be able to reassure the staff and the students and the families that we’re going to do this collaboratively, and we’re going to celebrate the things that are going well, and if we need to make some shifts, we’ll identify those together.”
Editor's note: this article has been updated with more comments from Kate Campbell.
Comments
The search process seems to
Bill Ryan Edgartown/New JerseyThe search process seems to have been thorough, and I hope Principal is very successful. As a longtime elementary administrator and teacher myself, I do find it disappointing that a high school specialist was hired to lead an elementary school. Yes, there is research that managers can manage at any level, but young children have specialized needs and instructional techniques are very different than at the secondary level. One can't help but think that Ms. DeBettencourt who knows the school and community so well would have been the logical choice. Now she is being tasked with helping the new person succeed. Rather mystifying!
The article did not include
M. Brown EdgartownThe article did not include Ms. Campbell's entire experience. She has spent over 30 years at the Elementary Level (including as a principal). Ms. DeBettencourt would have been a fantastic choice, as is Ms. Campbell.
Thank you for the information
Bill Ryan Edgartown/New JerseyThank you for the information, At the same time, the institutional knowledge of Ms. DeBettencourt as well as Ms. Campbell is extremely valuable! They could have stepped right into the new role and soared. Now the supe is relying on Ms. DeBettencourt to help the new person succeed. I feel for her!
I just can’t understand this
Pamela Dolby EdgartownI just can’t understand this decision. You had two qualified candidates from the Island who are both Assistant Principals obviously both approved by the Superintendent, who I believe has the final say on such issues. Why do they think off island is better? We just went down that road and it was a complete failure! I hope for the kids sake this is a good decision because it is final now.
Once again Mr Smith missed an
Tom Engley West TisburyOnce again Mr Smith missed an opportunity to advance an islander. Now John Stevens can really retire.
I laud the committee on this
Deb Blair EdgartownI laud the committee on this decision but would like to add as a parent with two children who attended Edgartown School, Debbie DeBettencourt is a fierce and true leader. As leaders do, she will rise to the occasion and jointly lead the “ leadership”.
Her commitment to the kids and community are unwavering.
I sincerely believe that
S. Sandiford Oak BluffsI sincerely believe that Superintendent Smith believes he is doing what is best for the school system, yet he consistently chooses off-island candidates over highly qualified islanders. The school system helps pay tuition to island educators to get administrative licenses, yet he ignores this investment. Search committees have favored island candidates but he overrides their input. Knowing the community and school culture of our schools is essential for success as an administrator on the island. This has been proven with the lack of success in Edgartown and in Oak Bluffs under Jackie Rizzo (who lasted 4 months). Richie is selling this choice like he's put together the dream team, but much of the responsibility will fall on Debbie DeBettencourt. The island candidates were highly qualified, had devoted decades to our island community and children, and should have gotten this job. It feels as though he does not support his own people.
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