Dear Friends,

Tonight, the Cambridge School Committee voted to hire David Murphy to be our next Superintendent of Schools.

I am pleased with this outcome, which I believe will serve our students, families, staff, and community well. Having worked closely with Mr. Murphy for a couple of years, mostly during his tenure as Interim Superintendent, I can attest to both his values and efficacy. I have witnessed the now-permanent Superintendent’s consistent centering of student experiences and learning outcomes, and his commitment to making difficult decisions to advance their needs. I also have heard from many educators and staff that the culture in the organization has improved dramatically in the last 16 months. They report feeling part of a team, motivated to work hard, respected, and listened to. These talented employees were also clear that they did not feel it was in the interest of students to impose another transition on the organization, including the time it would take for a new leader to get up-to-speed. They have appreciated seeing Mr. Murphy in school buildings more than past leaders, and have noted his sincere regard for all roles in the organization and community.

Mr. Murphy’s community interview September 25th

As a School Committee Member, I have experienced this Superintendent as the most communicative, collaborative, and transparent of the three with whom I have had the privilege of working. I also trust that Mr. Murphy will intentionally compensate for his non-traditional path to this role by continuing to seek out and deeply listen to educators. Additionally, he has a deep commitment to action for our students of color, LGBT+ students/staff/families, and immigrants - all groups under threat. In short, I believe his collaborative approach, systems thinking, and communication skills make Superintendent Murphy the right leader for the next chapter in the story of the Cambridge Public Schools.

Results of the search aside, many of you have reached out about the search process. Here are my answers to related questions:

• Was this a genuine search? Yes. 
• Do I wish the Committee started the process earlier? Yes.
• Did we have a strong pool of candidates? Yes. 
• Historically, have many/most Cambridge superintendent finalists come from the area? Yes.
• Does having a strong internal candidate dissuade some candidates from applying? Yes.
• Was our conclusion predetermined? Absolutely not.
• Do I wish a different search firm had been retained for candidate screening? Yes. 
• Am I disappointed that the leadership of the Cambridge Education Association decided to opt-out of a dedicated teacher forum with the three finalists? Yes
• Did many individual CEA members email the Committee in support of Mr. Murphy? Yes.
• Am I disappointed and frustrated with how some of my School Committee colleagues behaved in this process? Yes.
• Did the Committee hire a superintendent who will center student experience and outcomes, family engagement, and healthy organizational culture? Yes.

In collaboration,

Rachel