Superintendent works with district leaders and coach in creating district’s plan

New Wareham Public Schools Superintendent Amy Hartley-Matteson has hit the ground running.

Hartley-Matteson, in her job since July 1, reported to the Wareham School Committee on Aug. 20 about her  plans to work with district leaders through school visits, teacher evaluations and collaborative goal setting. She had already participated in a day-long school leaders workshop on Aug. 17 and 18.

A Rochester resident, Hartley-Matteson had been the assistant superintendent of Randolph Public Schools since 2019 and previously served as the principal of Wood Elementary School in Fairhaven and as a third grade teacher. 

This school year, Hartley-Matteson told the committee, she plans to identify the district’s strengths and improvement areas through four visits with each school and evaluations for educators.

At the Aug. 17-18 workshop, she and school leaders discussed what needs improvement for the next five-year plan, which she will present to the school committee at its Nov. 19 meeting.

Additionally, Hartley-Matteson is taking part in the New Superintendent Induction Program, in which she will be coached by Meg Mayo-Brown, intended to be completed in two years. The Massachusetts Department of Education and Massachusetts Association of School Superintendents runs the program for people stepping into the superintendent role for the first time.

“The goal is to support the development of transformational leaders who understand and meet the needs of all children in the district,” Mayo-Brown said.

Hartley-Matteson completed the first full-week portion of the program in July. Throughout the year, she will complete assignments and sessions for district leadership practice and meet with her coach monthly.

School Committee Secretary Joyce Bacchiocchi said she looks forward to meeting with Hartley-Matteson to talk in-depth about district goals.

“We need to keep moving forward, and we need to focus on student achievement,” she said.