February 23, 2024
Dear EMS Community,
I am happy to let you know that earlier this week, the Essex Westford School District Board agreed with my recommendation to offer Brian Clark a principal contract for the 2024-2025 school year at Essex Middle School (EMS). They also agreed not to conduct a principal search because we found the right person for the position.
The principal position was posted nationally on December 22, 2023. In January, I met with the EMS staff and followed up with a survey about their desire to follow through on the principal search since I had heard a lot of positive feedback regarding Mr. Clark’s leadership in a short period of time. Using the survey results, I discovered a high percentage didn’t think the search was necessary, and a smaller percentage of staff members wanted to continue with the search.
Respecting the voice of the staff, I asked for staff volunteers to serve on a principal search screening committee. The purpose was to review the applications we received and determine our next steps. The screening committee unanimously decided that Brian Clark was the strongest candidate and it was unnecessary to interview additional applicants.
In addition to the staff input and screening committee, we also surveyed families and students. There were an exceptionally high number of positive comments, and very few families shared concerns. Many of the comments from families showed support for following the guidance of the school faculty and staff in decision-making.
All the information gathered through this process provided me with evidence for recommending Mr. Clark to the Board.
I am very excited about the future direction of Essex Middle School and look forward to continuing to work closely with Brian!
Sincerely,
Beth Cobb
EWSD Superintendent