Northampton schools chief finalist for job

By OWEN BOSS
Staff Writer

NORTHAMPTON — Superintendent of Schools Isabelina Rodriguez was named one of three finalists competing for the position of superintendent of the East Longmeadow public school system.

Rodriguez is competing with two other finalists; Roland Joyal, principal of Chicopee High School and Gordon Smith, principal of Ludlow High School.

According to Gregory Thompson, Vice Chair of the East Longmeadow School Committee, final interviews of the candidates will occur during the committees’ open session meetings on April 5 and 6 and a decision is expected to be made soon after.

“We are scheduled to make our final decision by April 7,” Thompson said.

Rodriguez has been acting superintendent in Northampton since 2004 and she began her work here as Director of Pupil Services in 1994. Prior to joining the Northampton School District, Rodriguez worked in the Springfield Public Schools, serving first as a Bilingual Special Education Teacher for six years, then as an Evaluation Team Leader/Crisis Support Teacher, and finally as Supervisor of Special Education.

Although she said she would welcome the opportunity to run East Longmeadow’s schools, Rodriguez, who was a finalist in a superintendent search in Amherst less than a year ago, made a point of saying the application doesn’t diminish her commitment to schools in Northampton.

“I’m excited about the opportunity and to explore the possibility of running a school district such as East Longmeadow’s,” Rodriguez said. “I’ve had the opportunity to spend some time there and I am very excited at the thought of this opportunity.”

The position is being advertised of having an annual salary of between $130,000 and $140,000 and the winning candidate will take over on July 1.

Owen Boss can be reached at oboss@gazettenet.com