Shrewsbury names new superintendent

MELISSA MUNTZ COLE Dr. Joseph Sawyer will take over as Superintendent of Shrewsbury Public Schools beginning July 1. Shrewsbury - By unanimous vote, the Shrewsbury School Committee has chosen current Assistant Superintendent Dr. Joseph Sawyer to take over as superintendent of schools when Dr. Anthony Bent retires at the end of this school year.

"The man can lead, and we need a leader right now," School Committee Chair Mark Murray said. "He is respected highly by his peers, and he can rally the troops and inspire confidence."

Sawyer has worked in the district for 12 years, first as the assistant principal of Floral Street School beginning in 1997, taking over as principal in 2001. He was then named principal of Oak Middle School in 2006 and assistant superintendent in 2008.

Sawyer received a bachelor's degree in American history from Princeton University in 1990, a master's degree in educational administration and supervision from the University of Houston in 1994, and a doctorate in education administration from Boston College in 2005.

Prior to coming to Shrewsbury, Sawyer worked as a history and physical education teacher in a boarding school for emotionally disturbed students, was a corps member for Teach for America, which places teachers in under-resourced school districts nationwide, and was a third- and fifth-grade classroom teacher in Houston, Texas.

Committee members said Sawyer's intelligence, drive, dedication, strong morals, and ability to relate to teacher, students and parents made him a stand out among other applicants.

Sawyer said any success he has had in the district has been a direct result of the administrators, teachers and support staff he's worked with. Upon accepting the job, he promised to do the best job possible for Shrewsbury Public Schools.

"I will do everything I can to make Shrewsbury schools the best they can be," Sawyer said. "I look forward to the challenges, and I thank you for the opportunity."