Carlson reflects on remaining at superintendent post
By Angela Greiner Community Reporter

Marlborough - Marlborough's superintendent of schools is the head of one of the city's largest municipally run organizations and must eff ectively oversee the operation of the district. Mary Carlson, who has been the principal of Marlborough High School for the past eight years, recently accepted the position of superintendent for the Marlborough Public School District through June 2010, when she plans to retire. Carlson has been shouldering the additional responsibilities as the interim superintendent for several months, after former Superintendent Barbara McGann resigned.

"This is not how I envisioned ending my professional career," Carlson said.

As a resident and a veteran of the Marlborough Public Schools, Carlson's agreement to assume this new role came in part because of her dedication to the district.

Carlson, whose eyes lit up as she discussed the process of watching students grow from children to adults, began her career in the Marlborough School District in 1975. She began her 33-year career as a teacher, then became a vice principal and then a principal.

"I have been here forever," she said.

It was because of this history with the city and her commitment to its schools, as well as her concern about staff turnover, that she agreed to accept the position. In accepting it, Carlson has bought the district time to do an adequate candidate search and interview process in the hope of smoothly transitioning to a new superintendent.

"I know that right now there are so many superintendent job openings in the state …," she said. "It made sense to stay."

With the spring months being some of the busier months both in the High School and the superintendent's office, Carlson has had to hit the ground running. So far as superintendent, she has taken on the task of working with school administrators and School Committee members to create a balanced budget. As principal, she said, her vice principals have assumed many of her responsibilities, like getting senior recommendation letters in and preparing for graduation.

Carlson said that she is still a bit sad about not having day-to-day interactions with students. As she juggled phone calls and staff interruptions, she said that she is still adapting to the changes.

"The High School has been my home for the past 15 years," she said. "It is where I hang my hat and have a pair of sneakers hiding under my desk."

As Carlson begins to hurdle some of the school district's obstacles, she said that she does quickly embrace new challenges. With several plans in place for the 2008-2009 school year, Carlson plans to be a hands-on superintendent. After the dust settles and she finds her way through the busy budget season, Carlson plans to dig her sneakers out from under her desk and get back into the schools.