Above: Two outgoing school leaders will need to be replaced at the end of this school year. (images from school websites)
The district recently announced the planned retirements of Principal Clayton Ryan and Principal Kathleen Valenti. That means the Southborough Schools will be searching for two new elementary school Principals to begin in June.
The administration hopes to make appointments this winter for the new heads of Finn and Neary schools.
It’s not a surprise that at least one Southborough elementary school principal would have been making plans to leave their job this summer.
If the “New Neary Building Project” had been approved by voters last May, one school and some administrative positions would have been eliminated beginning in June 2026. (PreK-5 Students would have been consolidated into Finn and Woodward for two years. After that, Finn would have been eliminated as a school.)
The Search
Since the building project vote failed, the school buildings’ situation is in flux. While the officials explore next steps, the assumption is that all four Southborough K-8 schools will be open next year. So the administration is planning on hiring replacements for both Principals.
At last week’s School Committee Meeting, Superintendent Gregory Martineau discussed the process and timeline for the searches.
The jobs for the PreK to 1st grade and the 4th & 5th grade schools will be advertised throughout December. That month will also be used to recruit members for a separate committee to screen candidates for each Principal. As usual, committees will include parents, educators, and school leaders to be “reflective of the school community”.
The intent is for committees to interview candidates in January and host site visits. They may narrow candidates down to 1-3 Finalists for interviews with the central office leadership team, the Superintendent and a few members of the screening committees.
The goal is to make an appointment before February break.
Obviously, that timeline offers padding if something goes wrong. And it wouldn’t be the first time. . .
Retiring Finn Principal Clayton Ryan
Ryan has been an NSBORO employee since 1999. In May of 2017, following a rebooted search process when parents fought for him to be selected, Principal Ryan was promoted to the job.
Initially, district leadership had selected two outside finalists to replace James Randall who had served as Principal of both Finn and Woodward.
As part of the staffing decision, Ryan’s longtime job of Assistant Principal was being eliminated. (Though then-Superintendent Christine Johnson said they were “in conversations” about other roles for him in the district.) That prompted an outcry and petition from parents publicly supporting Ryan for the job at Finn. Although petitioners backed down at Ryan’s request, the community outcry was heard.
Retiring Neary Principal Kathleen Valenti
Kathleen Valenti was hired as Neary’s Principal in 2014. Her hiring process wasn’t controversial. But her recent performance as head of Neary has been.
In May of 2024, news broke about a Neary teacher and alleged racially charged incidents in the classroom. Stories about a mock slave auction made national headlines. Incidents reported prompted a public outcry.
A public petition by parents accused Principal Valenti and administration leadership of mishandling the situations. It included a demand for Valenti to be dismissed. It also called for Superintendent Martineau to be suspended and independently investigated.
The School Committee voiced its full support for Martineau, who didn’t support Valenti’s dismissal. (The teacher, who parents also wanted fired, was let go.)
A later audit of the school’s handling of the issues referred to failures of Valenti to accurately follow the district’s Civil Rights policy after one incident, but claimed she did after a second incident. Some parents who still wanted an independent investigation criticized the audit results as having accepted school leaders’ versions of events without speaking to parents.
Rather than digging further into what occurred and who was to blame, the School Committee and administration put their focus on a forward looking Action Plan to avoid future incidents and better respond if they occur.
NSBORO Announcement
In the Superintendent’s October 28th newsletter, Martineau announced the big “Leadership News”. In it, he enthused about the performances of both school leaders:
Finn Elementary School
Mr. Clayton Ryan, Principal of the Mary E. Finn Elementary School, has announced his plan to retire at the conclusion of the 2025–2026 school year. Throughout his twenty-six-year tenure in the District, Principal Ryan has been an exceptional and compassionate leader whose commitment to students, faculty, staff, and families has shaped the District into the caring and vibrant learning community it is today. His leadership has been defined by his belief in the potential of every child, a collaborative spirit, and a focus on fostering a culture of belonging and joy in learning.Neary School
Additionally, Ms. Kathleen Valenti, Principal of the Margaret A. Neary School, has announced her plan to retire at the end of the 2025–2026 school year. Principal Valenti has been a dedicated leader, consistently encouraging the Neary community to “put their best foot forward” for over a decade. Her commitment to fostering a culture of learning, belonging, and kindness has shaped Neary into a place where students are known, supported, and inspired to reach their fullest potential.Looking Ahead
We will miss both Principal Ryan’s and Principal Valenti’s leadership and steady guidance. We are grateful for the year ahead, during which they will continue to lead with the same dedication and thoughtfulness that have been the foundation of their careers. Over the coming months, the Public Schools of Southborough will begin searching for the next principals of the Finn and Neary Schools. Opportunities for community input will begin in early November, and additional details about each search process will be shared soon.
Please join me in extending heartfelt appreciation to Principal Ryan and Principal Valenti for their service to our students, staff, and families.
