Nota-Masse appointed Cranston Public Schools' next superintendent

Community leaders praise selection; promotion contingent on contract talks

Daniel Kittredge
Posted 4/17/15

After a litany of glowing endorsements from community leaders and fellow educators, Cranston Public Schools Assistant Superintendent Jeannine Nota-Masse on Tuesday was unanimously appointed to …

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Nota-Masse appointed Cranston Public Schools' next superintendent

Community leaders praise selection; promotion contingent on contract talks

Posted

After a litany of glowing endorsements from community leaders and fellow educators, Cranston Public Schools Assistant Superintendent Jeannine Nota-Masse on Tuesday was unanimously appointed to succeed retiring Superintendent Dr. Judith Lundsten.

“I do hope to be here for many years,” Nota-Masse told a packed auditorium at Western Hills Middle School after the vote, adding that she would like to one day present her son Nicholas – a student in the district – with his high school diploma.

Lundsten, who has worked in Cranston’s schools for more than two decades and served as superintendent since 2012, announced in January that she intends to retire effective June 30.

She said Nota-Masse is “firm,” “fair,” a “problem solver,” a “flexible thinker,” and the right choice for the superintendent’s post.

“You can’t go wrong. This is who you want for your next superintendent,” Lundsten said. “She loves Cranston. She loves her family. She sees Cranston as her family.”

The appointment of Nota-Masse as superintendent, effective July 1, is contingent on the negotiation of a contract, which will be subject to another vote. The committee’s vote Tuesday was 6-0, with Ward 6 representative Dan Wall not present.

Nota-Masse began her career as an English teacher in the Providence School Department in 1993. She was appointed assistant principal at Cranston High School East in 2001, and was promoted to assistant principal for academic affairs in 2006.

In 2008, she left the district to become principal of East Greenwich High School. She returned to Cranston in 2010 as executive director of educational programs and services, and was appointed assistant superintendent in 2012.

Word of Nota-Masse’s impending appointment had drawn criticism from some corners, with concerns centered on the school committee’s decision not to conduct a wider search for Lundsten’s successor.

Stephanie Culhane, the committee’s vice chair and representative of Ward 2, defended the approach. She noted that Lundsten’s predecessor, Peter Nero, was appointed without a search.

Culhane also said the committee felt the time needed to conduct a search, and for any prospective outside hire to become fully acclimated, might “do more harm than good.” More than that, though, she said Nota-Masse stood out because of her qualifications, experience, and commitment to the community.

“We collectively feel confident,” she said, adding that the committee conducted a “lengthy interview” with Nota-Masse. “I’m so excited about the future … We’ll be able to look at our district and say it’s the best because of someone like Jeannine.”

Ward 3 representative Domenic Fusco, who was elected to the committee in November, said he might not have been inclined to support the appointment at the time he took office in January.

“My opinions has changed” in the months since, he said, based on his experiences as an elected official and his work with Nota-Masse. Her interview with the committee, he said, clinched his support.

“We can’t go wrong,” he said.

Ward 1 representative Jeff Gale said he was initially leaning toward supporting a national search, but was swayed by Nota-Masse’s “dedication” and “love for Cranston.”

“She chose to come back” after working in East Greenwich, he said.

Janice Ruggieri, the committee’s chair and the representative of Ward 5, took issue with the contention by some that the superintendent’s job was being handed to Nota-Masse.

“She’s earned this job, and she’s proven herself,” she said.

Ruggieri highlighted Nota-Masse’s accomplishments as assistant superintendent, including the development of the AliCE, or Alert Lockdown Inform Counter Evacuate, safety program, and the creation of a residency task force. She also noted that Gov. Gina Raimondo recently appointed Nota-Masse to the Rhode Island Career and Technical Board of Trustees.

“Not only is she of value to our school district, she’s of value to our state,” Ruggieri said.

Ruggieri further cited Nota-Masse’s roots in, and commitment to, the city and its schools.

“She would gladly sign a 20-year contract [if possible] … I know that we’ve made the right choice,” she said.

Citywide representative Michael Traficante recited the Boy Scout Oath, which lists the 12 character traits expected of a scout.

“I just described Jeannine,” he said. “Jeannine cares about this system ... and she’s very capable of getting the job done.”

Ward 4 representative Trent Colford spoke of the fact that Nota-Masse’s son attends school in the district.

“There is no better reason to be in this than your children,” he said. “How much more commitment can you get?”

A number of speakers addressed the committee during the public comment portion of Tuesday’s meeting, all in support of Nota-Masse’s appointment.

Mayor Allan Fung, who was a year ahead of Nota-Masse while the two were students at Classical High School in Providence, called the assistant superintendent “extremely qualified.” He said he advocated for the Cranston district to bring her back after she left for the principal’s post in East Greenwich.

“She is the right person to lead this school department for the next generations,” he said. “She has the right blend of integrity, personality and professionalism to get the job done.”

Chief of Police Col. Michael Winquist spoke of his work with Nota-Masse late last year, when local police received letters threatening violence against elementary schools in Cranston, Warwick and Johnston. He said the two were, and remain, in contact constantly on issues of school safety, and that she understands the “24/7 commitment” of a role such as superintendent or police chief.

“Jeannine was instrumental in coordinating” the response, he said, adding that she “displayed a calm demeanor throughout this challenging time” and is “well respected” by the Cranston Police Department’s personnel.

Winquist made reference to his own experience as second-in-command of the Rhode Island State Police before taking the Cranston post, and said working under an effective superintendent with high expectations – in his case, Col. Steven O’Donnell – provides an unparalleled opportunity for professional growth.

“Jeannine has learned under one of the best in Dr. Lundsten,” he said. “In my opinion, there’s no need to conduct a national or statewide search … You have the right person for the job right here.”

Andrea Iannazzi, the former chair of the school committee who now serves as a special counsel to the governor, said Nota-Masse is a “student-centric” administrator who has served as a moderating influence during at-times contentious discussions between municipal and school district officials.

“She was always the party that tried to get us to work together and work collaboratively,” she said.

Cranston East Principal Sean Kelly, Cranston High School West Principal Tom Barbieri, Park View Middle School Principal Mike Crudale and district Executive Director of SIS/Data Management Jim Dillon also spoke in support of Nota-Masse’s appointment.

“She has what it takes to be our next superintendent,” Crudale said.

Nota-Masse said she will work to ensure the district’s curriculum advances “to meet the needs of 21st-century students.” She spoke of how families sacrifice to move to, and stay in, Cranston because of its schools.

“My role is to be the biggest advocate for this district in this district,” she said. “My students were, and continue to be, my inspiration.”

Note-Masse praised the “incredible central office team,” and also thanked her family for their support.

“They realize this is a vocation for me,” she said. “This is a calling.”

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