March31,2014 DearNorthamptonSchoolCommitteeMembers, PleaseknowthattheentireAdministrativeLeadershipTeamisunited andunfalteringinoursupportforsuperintendentcandidateJohn Provost.JohngaveanextraordinaryinterviewFridayinthe conferenceroomatJFK.Inadditiontohisexperience,leadership qualities,andconnectionwithourteamtherearealsoconcrete examplesofhisleadershipfromwhichwedrewupontomakeour decision.Pleaseknowthatwemetearlythismorningtoredraftthis lettertoclarifytheTeamsperspective. Firstly,JohnworkedwithWestSpringfieldSuperintendentRussell JohnstoninAgawamfor12yearswithexcellentstanding.Nancy CheevershadanopportunitytospeakdirectlytoMr.Johnstonon FridayregardingJohn'sworkethicandleadershipstyle.

Hewasvery specificanddetailedaboutJohn'saccomplishmentsandhighly regardedhim,hisleadershipqualities,andhiscollaborativework withtheteam.Mr.Johnstonpraisedhisworkwithteachers,the teacher'sassociation,andtheprincipals.Furthermore,Mr.Johnston creditedJohnwithahighlysuccessfulprofessionaldevelopmentplan forthedistrictunitingallschools.Thisisalsoastrengthinhis presentschoolsystem. Additionally,NancyhadtheopportunitytoworkwithJohnonastate committeemeetingatwhichhepavedthewayforDESEtoallow districtstolimitthenumberofpriorityelementsintheirteacher evaluationsystems.Thiswasrevolutionaryinthatteachersand administratorscouldmanagetheprocesssoallcouldsucceedina newandverycomplexsystem.Hisleadershipinthisrespecthad implicationsforalldistrictsacrossthestatemostespeciallyin Northampton.

Mostimportantly,theAdministrativeLeadershipTeamappreciated John'spractical,direct,clearandthoughtfulvisionforNorthampton. ItwasremarkablethatwhatbeganasaformalinterviewonFriday, endedinahighlyreflectiveconversationregardingthemultitudeof initiativesissuesfacingtheNorthamptonPublicSchoolstoday.John sharedtheimportanceofparenteducationandavisionof collaborationbetweenteachers,administrators,andthe superintendent.Remarkably,wewereimmediatelyengagedand inspiredthroughoutthisdiscussion.Theteamisalreadyengagedin excellentworktoimproveourlevelthreeschools,isintheprocessof completingalongtermprofessionaldevelopmentplantostrengthen instructionalpracticesanduniteelementaryschoolsacrossthecity. Also,hisexperienceasasuperintendentwasclearlyevidentthrough hisdiscussionofthebudgetprocess,curriculumalignment,DESE andRTTinitiatives,andhisPreK12focus.WebelieveJohnisthe bestcandidatetocontinueourworktogether. Finally,ofthethreecandidates,Johnispracticallydrivenandspeaks inplainlanguageminusunnecessaryeducationaljargon. Weareconfidenthehasanunderstandingofwhereweneedtogoand canframeitpragmaticallytomoveourdistrictforward.Webelieve Johnistheidealcandidatetosupporttheworkinprogress,andto inspireuswithwaysinwhichwecancontinueimprovingeducation forallstudentsinNorthampton. Weunderstandthecomplexitiesinvolvedinthisdecision,andatthe sametimeweappreciateyourconsiderationofourunanimouspoint ofview. Sincerely, TheAdministrativeLeadershipTeam

NorthamptonPublicSchools