State Commissioner of Early Education and Care Sherri Killins is currently being trained at Ware public schools on how to become a school superintendent
State Commissioner of Early Education and Care Sherri Killins, left, is seen in this composite of file photos with Ware Superintendent of Schools Mary Elizabeth Beach.
WARE - State Commissioner of Early Education and Care Sherri Killins is currently being trained at Ware public schools on how to become a school superintendent.
Her mentor is the veteran Ware superintendent Mary-Elizabeth Beach. In interviews, the women said prospective superintendent candidates must complete a tutoring program of at least 300 hours.
She expects to complete her tutorship in about a year, working with Beach mostly in the evenings.
Killins will be required to use vacation time to complete some tutoring during regular school hours, Beach said.
Killins attended the Ware School Committee meeting on Wednesday night.
She sat beside Beach during the meeting and also sat in on a closed-door session when the committee voted to enter executive session. Killins has been commissioner since 2009. She holds a doctorate counseling psychology from the University of Sarasota in Florida and an MBA from Johns Hopkins University.
Asked why a state commissioner in charge of education programs and opportunities for the very young would want to be superintendent, Killins pointed out that her job ends once Gov. Deval Patrick leaves office and that a school superintendent has a very complex, demanding and rewarding job.
“The truth is I am continuously learning,” Killins said.
“When you make state policy,” she added, the knowledge of a local superintendent “is a perspective you need. It has a huge benefit to what I’m doing. Also I’m a political appointment. When Gov. Patrick leaves office I’ll be looking for job.”
The commissioner said she chose Beach, and Ware, because she has known her the past four years and says working with her is a good fit.
In addition, Beach “was willing to be flexible,” providing tutoring in the evening and early mornings, Killins said.
Beach says she has tutored one other superintendent hopeful and a half dozen administrators including principals.
Killins began her Ware mentoring project with Beach last month.