These are the 3 finalists for Brockton High School principal. What we know

BROCKTON – Acting Superintendent of Brockton Public Schools James Cobbs has announced the three finalists for the role of Brockton High School principal.

Kevin McCaskill, Jahmal Mosley and Anthony Pope were selected as the final candidates for the job by an interview team of students, parents, Brockton High teachers, support staff, school-based and district-level administrators and union representatives, Cobbs said in an alert message to the Brockton schools community.

“After extensive deliberation and discussion, the interview team recommended three finalists for consideration,” Cobbs said in the message.

The interview process took place on Nov. 29 and 30. When the application closed in mid-October, Cobbs said he received at least 11 applicants.

Cobbs said he expects to have a principal hired by Jan. 1 to take over for Acting Principal Jose Duarte, who took over temporarily on Oct. 23.

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Despite the district facing a $14.4 million overspending from last year’s budget and an $18 million deficit in this year’s budget, Cobbs said there is enough money in this year's budget to pay both the incoming principal and Duarte during an overlapping period while the new principal settles in.

Brockton parents to meet candidates

The Brockton Public Schools community will be able to meet all three finalists and ask questions at an event on Wednesday, Dec. 13. Community members can attend one of two sessions at 9 a.m. or 2:30 p.m.

“On Wednesday, December 13, 2023, the three finalists will be visiting Brockton High School, and all parents and community members are welcome to meet the finalists, interact with them, and ask them questions,” Cobbs said.

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Brockton Public Schools officials did not respond to The Enterprise's request for comment on the candidates' backgrounds.

Who is Kevin McCaskill?

McCaskill most recently served as assistant superintendent of secondary schools for Boston Public Schools.

Before that, he was executive director at Madison Park Technical Vocational High School and director of school design and programming for the Hartford Public Schools.

Between the years of 1994 and 2010, McCaskill served as principal at the high school, middle school and elementary school in Springfield.

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During his tenure as principal at Putnam Vocational High School, a city audit alleged that school officials mishandled school funding, according to MassLive. Following the audit's results, seven unnamed district employees were either fired, suspended, demoted or resigned.

By that point, McCaskill had moved to a different school district.

“It is egregious. It is a disgrace,” McCaskill said to MassLive at the time. "I have no recollection of doing anything illegal while at the school."

McCaskill holds a master of school administration from Westfield State College.

Who is Jahmal Mosley?

Mosley is currently the director of academics for Madison Park Technical Vocational High School in Boston.

Before taking that role, Mosley served as superintendent of South Hadley Public Schools, but resigned in Dec. 2022 following a nine-month paid leave, according to the Daily Hampshire Gazette.

Mosley also spent time as superintendent of Nashua Public Schools and assistant superintendent for the Sharon Public Schools.

Mosley additionally held principal and assistant principal positions in Somerset, Brattleboro, Vermont, Newton and Middleboro.

Mosley holds a doctorate in education from the University of Massachusetts Amherst and a master of science in education from Wheelock College.

Who is Anthony Pope?

According to Cobbs' message, Pope works as an "executive coach and professional developer supporting district and school leaders in southern New England."

Pope has held several superintendent and principal roles across New England, including instructional superintendent for high schools in the Boston Public Schools, superintendent of Marlborough Public Schools, principal of Weymouth High School and executive director of high schools for the Providence Public Schools.

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While serving as superintendent in Marlborough, Pope faced a handful of controversies that led to his resignation, after teachers and students called for him to resign at a public school committee meeting, according to MetroWest Daily News.

Pope faced heavy public criticism after firing the well-liked assistant principal Adam Bakr, which resulted in student protests inside the high school.

He was also accused of pushing a high school guidance counselor on Jan. 27, 2012, but a police investigation found that the incident did not rise to the level of criminal behavior.

He was criticized by the Marlborough School Committee after missing the deadline for an accreditation progress report to the New England Association of Schools and Colleges.

Pople also served as a senior consultant to the Panasonic Education Foundation from 2012 to 2015, and led curriculum and instruction in Sugar Land, Texas, and Stamford, Connecticut.

Pope received his PhD in education from the Harvard Graduate School of Education and a master's degree in education from Houston Christian University.

Enterprise staff writer Chris Butler can be reached by email at cbutler@enterprisenews.com.

This article originally appeared on The Enterprise: Brockton High School principal finalists announced, expected by Jan. 1