We share the disappointment of the School Committee and the community at losing one of the two remaining candidates for superintendent just hours before decision time. It is unfortunate that the candidate’s sense of Harvard’s needs and her readiness to meet them could not have been recognized sooner.
We don’t know what the committee will do next—offer the job to the one remaining candidate, re-open the process to bring back candidates previously excluded, or start over.
Whatever the committee decides, we hope they will carefully consider the merits of using a consultant to facilitate the process. An effective consultant not only helps screen and find the best candidates, but also works closely with those candidates at every stage to manage their expectations, making sure they understand the community’s wants and needs, and how those diverse requirements might impact their success.
Neither a candidate nor the school community should discover at the last minute that there has been a mismatch between needs and qualifications.
