Maureen Cohen selected as next superintendent of Mendon-Upton
MENDON — Maureen Cohen will soon remove the interim tag from her job title.
Serving as the district's interim superintendent since August, Cohen has been selected as the permanent leader of the Mendon-Upton Regional School District. The School Committee recently voted unanimously to enter into contract negotiations with her.
"Although her many accomplishments certainly speak for themselves, Dr. Cohen is also widely respected by her peers for her leadership style, innovative practice, commitment to self-improvement, and her nurturing and care for others," said the School Committee in a statement.
Cohen, who has worked in education for more than 20 years, has served as the district's assistant superintendent since October 2017. Before that, she was the district's director of curriculum for a little over four years.
She previously served as a Grafton School Committee member from 2015 to 2019, where she currently lives, and also grew up in Gardner, graduating from the high school in 1992. In 2000 to 2005, Cohen was a history teacher at Framingham High School.
She holds undergraduate and graduate degrees from Bowdoin College and Northeastern University in government and international relations, followed by a doctorate in educational leadership.
Cohen will replace Joseph Maruszczak, who left to become superintendent and co-founder of Nuestro Mundo Public Charter School in Providence, Rhode Island.
The appointment comes after a nationwide search. A screening committee, comprised of parents and school personnel, reviewed all submitted applications and chose several candidates for preliminary interviews.
After those interviews, the committee put forth two candidates — Cohen and Margaret Adams, assistant superintendent for Melrose Public Schools — for further consideration by the School Committee.
When School Committee members chose Cohen as their interim superintendent, they unanimously approved a contract that included a salary of $165,000 annually, pro-rated based on how long she remained in the role.
Zane Razzaq writes about education. Reach her at 508-626-3919 or zrazzaq@wickedlocal.com. Follow her on Twitter @zanerazz.
This article originally appeared on The Milford Daily News: Maureen Cohen selected as next superintendent of Mendon-Upton
