The Republican and MassLive.com reported last month that Ware School Superintendent Mary-Elizabeth Beach was serving as a mentor to Killins.
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.
BOSTON – The chairman of the Massachusetts Board of Early Education and Care is asking for more information about Early Education and Care Commissioner Sherri Killins’ internship with the Ware Public Schools.
An aide to Gov. Deval Patrick said Wednesday that chairman J.D. Chesloff has asked Education Secretary Matt Malone to review the matter, which he is doing.
The Republican and MassLive.com reported Feb. 16 that Ware School Superintendent Mary-Elizabeth Beach was serving as a mentor to Killins.
In the February interview, the women said prospective superintendent candidates must complete a tutoring program of at least 300 hours.
Killins, reached by telephone Wednesday, said the reaction from chairman Chesloff is “disappointing.”
She said Chesloff knows her, is familiar with her work and of her favorable performance reviews. “He knows better,” she said.
She said she chose to shadow Beach, whom she has known for four years, because Beach has extensive experience in school administration in Washington, D.C., Springfield and Ware.
Shadowing Beach allows Killins to see how state and district policies affect early education.
She said being mentored by Beach counts toward the 300 hours of tutoring should Killins one day choose to seek a superintendent position, but she reiterated that decision is “not on my radar screen.”
“If I ever wanted to be a superintendent, I have to do 300 hours – and we’re a long way from that.”
Because of her own busy schedule, Killins said she is only being able to squeeze in a few hours per month shadowing Beach, and said there is no way she could complete the 300-hour requirement by the end of this year.
Killins has been commissioner since 2009 and earned more than $197,000 last year. She holds a doctorate in counseling psychology from the University of Sarasota in Florida and an MBA from Johns Hopkins University.
In the February interview she explained her interest in being a school superintendent. She said as a political appointee her job ends once Gov. Deval L. Patrick leaves office. “I’ll be looking for a job.”
Plus, she said, she believes a superintendent’s job is rewarding.