NORTHAMPTON — Jannell Pearson-Campbell started work as interim superintendent of Northampton Public Schools on Tuesday and spent time meeting district officials, introducing herself to parents and strategizing about how to fill critical vacancies in the central office.
Pearson-Campbell described her first day as “a whirlwind of getting people together, and everyone wants to hear from me.” She said she was planning to schedule public meet-and-greets in September “so that everybody’s not on vacation.”
“I met with my team and everybody’s been very welcoming,” she said in an interview. “Very organized. They say, ‘We want you to be successful.’”
On Wednesday, Pearson-Campbell sent an email to the school community, promising to “share my 90-day plan with community members in the next few weeks and during a back-to-school meeting.”
“I was fortunate to have two loving parents, who were my brothers’ and my cheerleaders. They were at every graduation, cheering us on and providing guidance as we pursued our careers,” Pearson-Campbell wrote. “Our parents instilled in us the values of getting an education, and of reaching behind and supporting others on their journey. … My goal is to emphasize caring support for ALL members of our community.”
Pearson-Campbell’s contract runs through June 30, 2023, with the possibility of a one-year extension, and pays a salary of $178,000.
At the tail end of her first day on Tuesday, Pearson-Campbell attended the afternoon office hours held by School Committee members at the Hampshire Heights housing complex. She met and spoke with members including Vice Chair Gwen Agna, Holly Ghazey of Ward 2 and Margaret Miller of Ward 6.
When Pearson-Campbell arrived and began to approach the dozen or so parents and children gathered outside the community room, Nila Santiago, 4, broke free from her mother Luisa, walked up to the new interim superintendent and grabbed onto her hand. Pearson-Campbell held hands with the little girl as she introduced herself to people at a picnic table.
A 22-year educator and most recently the former assistant superintendent of teaching and learning at Old Rochester Regional School District in Plymouth County, Pearson-Campbell was hired by the School Committee last week to serve as interim superintendent for up to one year while a search is underway to find a permanent replacement for John Provost, who left the district last month after eight years.
“We’re going to work on communication,” Agna told the new district leader, recalling that many parents were unaware that the start time had changed last school year. Pearson-Campbell suggested one way of increasing awareness would be to post the hours outside each school.
Pearson-Campbell said she grew up with “heavy Southern Baptist” traditions in Sharon, Mass., and attended Florida A&M University, a historically Black university in Tallahassee that “gave us that soulful foundation, so that we walk into a place and we bring the change.”
While Pearson-Campbell spoke to a reporter, a child seated nearby called out, “What are you doing?” Pearson-Campbell replied, “I’m new. It’s my first day, like the first day of school.” As she explained further, the child interrupted to warn Pearson-Campbell that a bee was hovering next to her.
“Ooh, I’ll move out the way,” Pearson-Campbell said. “I’m allergic to bees! Thank you!”
She said that among her top priorities are ensuring safety in the schools and hiring a full-time business manager for the district.
“My goal is, by the end of this month, to have a solidified team,” Pearson-Campbell said.
Until a new hire is in place, Susan Wright will continue as interim business manager. Wright also served as acting superintendent from July 8-19, from the date that the School Committee held public interviews for interim superintendent until the day Pearson-Campbell started working.
Provost, the former superintendent, left Northampton to lead the Hampden-Wilbraham Regional School District starting on July 1.
Pearson-Campbell will also serve as an ex-officio member of the Smith Vocational & Agricultural High School board of trustees.
“They were meeting today, but they were like, ‘It’s her first day. Let’s let her get her office situated before she jumps into that,’” she said.
Brian Steele can be reached at bsteele@gazettenet.com.