Holliston Public Schools

Holliston, Massachusetts, a New England town located approximately 20 miles west of Boston, seeks an experienced and visionary leader to serve as its next Superintendent of Schools. This is a unique opportunity to lead a high-achieving school district in a community that deeply values education, collaboration, and the holistic development of its students.

The Community of Holliston

Holliston is a town that prides itself on its strong sense of community, historic charm, and rural character. With a population of approximately 15,000, Holliston offers a welcoming and engaging environment with a high level of volunteerism and community involvement. Holliston has a rich history. Established in 1724, Holliston is famously known for historic manufacturing of heavy footwear for farmers and sportsmen, which was produced in the Old Mill Building. The town center, with its classic New England architecture, is home to a variety of local businesses, including the historic Fiske’s General Store, which has been a community hub for over 150 years. Holliston is known for its picturesque landscapes, including the popular Lake Winthrop and the Upper Charles River Trail, which provide ample opportunities for recreation and community gatherings. Blair Square on the Rail Trail is Holliston’s meeting spot which hosts concerts, picnics, the annual holiday stroll and New Year’s Eve First Night events. The Pinecrest Golf Club is a municipal golf course that has also made Holliston a popular place to visit.

Holliston’s strong community spirit is further demonstrated by its active parent-teacher organizations, youth sports organizations, athletic boosters, and arts associations, all of which contribute to a vibrant and supportive environment for its schools. To learn even more about the Holliston community, please visit this website or click here to see a video of our town.

The Holliston Public School District

The Holliston School District is made up of four schools: Sam Placentino Elementary School (PreK-2), Fred W. Miller Elementary School (grades 3-5), Robert H. Adams Middle School (grades 6-8), and Holliston High School (grades 9-12+). The district offers a K-5 French Immersion program and a PreK-4 Montessori program in addition to its Traditional program. Holliston is only one of two districts in Massachusetts that offer French Immersion. In 2024-25 the school enrollment was approximately 2700 students served by roughly 250 teachers and 500 total staff. The FY26 School Budget is $44,372,069 (excl Benefits), Town Budget is $77,874,232 and the Town’s Public Debt Rating is AAA (S&P).

Holliston schools employ a data-driven approach to continually assess student needs and opportunities for growth. Holliston’s elementary schools work to create a supportive and emotionally safe learning environment where students build regulation, resilience, and a sense of belonging through integrated SEL and PBIS practices.
In 2024, the Robert Adams Middle School (RAMS) was named a National Blue Ribbon School Awardee by the US Department of Education. RAMS was one of only nine schools in the state of Massachusetts, and the only middle school that received this distinctive honor for the category of Exemplary High Performing Schools that year. Holliston High School students are able to pursue an array of opportunities – including robust elective offerings, Seal of Biliteracy, Foreign Exchange Program, Computer Science Endorsement, Global Citizens Program, Internships and Senior Projects.

Holliston offers a full interscholastic sports program at the varsity, junior varsity, freshmen, middle school and unified levels; competing in the Tri-Valley League against towns such as Dedham, Westwood, Medfield, and Hopkinton. Students take part in a wide variety of co-curricular and extra-curricular activities with scores of clubs at the MS and HS levels. Holliston has strong theater programs at both the MS and HS levels and holds a district-wide “Art Saves Lives” art show each year.

The district’s mission is to “collaboratively create a safe, inclusive environment that empowers all learners, through innovative teaching and learning, to be lifelong, active, global citizens.” This mission is guided by a set of core values that emphasize:

• An emotionally and physically supportive, safe, and equitable school environment
• Effective communication between all constituents
• Leveraging technology to enhance innovative learning
• A strong sense of community enhanced by family and community partnerships
• Recognizing, celebrating, and appreciating individuality
• The power of student agency
• Providing varied opportunities for collaboration

The district’s 2022-2027 Strategic Plan, “Building Bridges Together,” supports the district’s core values by focusing on developing strong communication, social and emotional well-being, teaching and learning, and talent and resources. As the schools enter 2028 and beyond, Holliston would look to its new forward-thinking educational leader to build upon the district’s successes and navigate the challenges of the future to craft a plan that reflects the community’s desire for high-quality educational opportunities for all students.

Qualifications

Holliston desires an experienced candidate who demonstrates collaborative and inclusive leadership, prioritizes instructional excellence, communicates clearly and effectively, creates and sustains a positive culture among students and staff, fosters equity, and constructively manages the complexities of relationships among and between stakeholders. The candidate should be licensed or eligible for licensure as a superintendent of schools in Massachusetts, hold a Master’s degree in education or related field (Doctorate preferred), and have a minimum of 10 years in education, including teaching, central office and/or administrative experience. Experience with MSBA or other school building projects preferred. The position has a start date of July 1, 2026 with highly competitive salary and benefits commensurate with experience.

The candidate should be licensed or eligible for licensure as a superintendent of schools in Massachusetts, hold a Master’s degree in education or related field (Doctorate preferred), and have a minimum of 10 years in education, including teaching, central office and/or administrative experience.

About Hazard, Young, Attea & Associates

Established in 1987, Hazard, Young, Attea & Associates (HYA) is one of the oldest and largest search firms having assisted more than 1,600 school boards select exceptionally talented leadership in school systems across the nation, large and small, urban and rural. HYA’s reputation and experience make it one of the preeminent school search firms in the nation and a standard which others often emulate. HYA Associates are located across the country to conveniently serve clients and are thus uniquely qualified to bring local – as well as national – perspectives, knowledge, experience, and connections to each search.

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