By Melanie Petrucci, Senior Community Reporter
Photo/Melanie Petrucci
Northborough/Southborough – “Non-stop!” said Christine Johnson when describing her last couple of months as Northborough/Southborough superintendent. She is officially retiring as of June 30 and her assistant superintendent, Gregory Martineau, has been named her successor.
“We’ve been busy working on projects…In our work things are a continuum just like learning – it never ends,” Johnson added. “I’ve been really focused on getting the work done. It’s been wonderful though, absolutely wonderful.”
Martineau, who has been Johnson’s assistant for the past five years, was selected from an internal search.
“They have the right person for the job!” Johnson said. “It was a successful selection process and it was consistent with best practices.”
Martineau said he was humbled by the vote of confidence from Johnson and the selection committee, and the school communities of Northborough and Southborough have been very receptive.
He is already having conversations with the various stakeholders and teacher/staff associations to make sure he is ready when he assumes the post Monday, July 1.
Martineau, 48, grew up in Burlington, Vermont, and graduated from Northern Vermont University where he studied education. He is married with two children and lives in Shrewsbury.
“My mom was an elementary education teacher for her career; my grandparents were educators; and my great grandparents were educators, so it’s part of the family,” he explained. “I always wanted to be a teacher so that was my path.”
When asked about the transition ahead, Martineau remarked, “I’ve been in the district for five years, so I know the educators and I know a lot of the families and the School Committee members, so I anticipate it to be a smooth transition, but I am approaching it as if I’m new.”
He said that he has an entry plan that he is working on which will be revealed in the coming months. It will serve as the basis for initial goal setting.
“As I look ahead to next year, I think we are heading in a great direction in terms of some of the work we are doing internally, focusing on teaching and learning and talking about best practices in terms of instruction. There is a lot of great momentum,” he shared.
Challenges that he will face include contract negotiations and regional transportation reimbursement from the state, circuit breaker funding for special education as well as seeing how legislation regarding reworking the Chapter 70 formula will impact his district.
“I’ve had great mentorship and a great model from Christine and we’ve worked hand-in-hand throughout the past five years,” he said. “I’m going to miss her greatly… Our core values are the same and our work ethics are the same, I’ve really enjoyed the partnership. I feel honored and humbled to be the next steward of the work for as long as I can.”
