Westford Promotes One Of Its Own To Superintendent

Arlington MA

19 March, 2021

3:59 PM

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Your Arlington Last Updated: 19 March 2021 UPDATED, March 19: For the second time in a month, Arlington High School Principal Matthew Janger was a finalist for superintendent of a Massachusetts school system, and for the second time, he was not chosen. Dr. Janger, who was not picked in Reading in February, was among four seeking the top school job in Westford, whose School Committee voted Thursday, March 18, to choose one of their own. The Lowell Sun reports that Christopher Chew was the unanimous choice as the district's next superintendent. He is the principal of Westford's Stony Brook School, which serves grades 6 through 8, and will replace Bill Olsen on July 1, following Olsen's 15-year stint as superintendent. Within about an hour, the committee agreed to Chew, The Sun reported, though member Mingquan Zheng advocated for Janger. School Committee members cited the stability Chew would bring as a leader in Westford, having already been a member of the community, as well as his trustworthiness, fun energy and scholar's view of learning. On March 4, Janger told YourArlington: "I am honored to be considered for the position. I believe that I can make a positive contribution in the lives of students as superintendent, and Westford is a wonderful community with strong commitments to student success, well being and diversity. Like Arlington, it's a place I would be happy to raise a family." He has led Arlington High, including the key effort to rebuild the school, since 2013. He took over Charles Skidmore retired. Before that, he was principal of Mount Desert Island High School in Bar Harbor, Maine. "The thought of leaving Arlington High School is certainly bittersweet. I have been Principal at Arlington for almost eight years and raised my family here. I love the school and the community." The four finalists for the position faced the Westford public on Thursday, March 11, on Zoom. A meet-and-greet from parents and the community is set for each at 6 p.m. School Committee interviews are set to start at 7:30 p.m. The other finalists for the position are Melrose Assistant Superintendent Margaret Adams, Stony Brook Middle School (Westford) Principal Christopher Chew and Michele Shannon, executive vice president of client services for New York Leadership Academy. On Thursday, March 18, the Westford School Committee will discuss each candidate and select its next superintendent. YourArlington.com has provided news and opinion about Arlington, Mass., since 2006. Publisher Bob Sprague is a former editor at The Boston Globe, Boston Herald and Arlington Advocate. Read more at https://www.yourarlington.com/about.