At Monday’s School Committee meeting, Superintendent Linda Dwight introduced the members to Jennifer Sauter as the recommended candidate to become director of pupil services in the Harvard schools. The administrative position requires School Committee approval, and after a short round of questions for Sauter, the committee voted unanimously in favor of her appointment.
Sauter had emerged from a field of more than 40 applicants as the top contender to succeed Marie Harrington, who is retiring. Sauter has more than 20 years’ experience, first as a classroom teacher and then as an assistant principal and a principal at middle schools in Grafton, Northbridge, and Leicester. Thereafter, she worked in Worcester as both an administrator and a teacher with the nonprofit Collaborative Educational Services in a program for students with significant social and emotional needs. Most recently she was education director at ARCHway Inc. in Leicester, a state-approved special education school for students aged 11 to 22 who have significant developmental issues or autism.
The director of pupil services oversees the schools’ special education services for students with disabilities by arranging evaluations, developing Individualized Education Plans (IEPs), and providing for specialized programs such as occupational, physical, or speech therapy. The director also coordinates the program for English language learners and serves as a liaison to services for homeless students. In addition, the director is responsible for ensuring the schools are in compliance with state civil rights requirements and meet state and federal standards for special education.
School Committee member Abby Besse asked Sauter what drew her to Harvard. Sauter said she saw Harvard schools as being committed to giving all students an opportunity to succeed. She spoke favorably of Harvard’s efforts to keep as many students as possible within the district and with their agemates.
The question that particularly concerns her, Sauter said, is, “How do we make typical experiences available to students who really struggle?” She mentioned sports as an area that she has seen bring together students of differing abilities, and she encourages broad participation. (She noted she is still an enthusiastic soccer player.)
Sauter spoke frankly about areas of the pupil services position where she has not yet had experience, such as going through the state’s “circuit-breaker” processes. The Massachusetts circuit-breaker program reimburses schools for some special education expenses each year, but the amount varies considerably from year to year. Superintendent Dwight pointed out that Harrington, the retiring director, remains available to help with the transition as Sauter moves into her new role.
