“He brings some enthusiasm, he now has experience as a superintendent so he understands the job; you really don’t understand the job of superintendent unless you’ve been superintendent,’’ said Levine, who took over on an interim basis seven months ago after C. Milton Burnett retired.
“He’s proven that he’s more than capable in the job he’s in,’’ Levine said. “He’s been in Peabody before and he knows the players. He’s highly respected and well thought of among the people he worked with when he was here. He brings vision of where Peabody needs to go and how to get there.’’
The head of the Salem Academy Charter School’s lower school, David N. Fischer, and Scituate’s interim superintendent, James J. Kelleher, were the other two finalists for the job.
Kelleher took himself out of the running on Tuesday.
“Wonderful people, but it just was not a match for me,’’ Kelleher said via e-mail.
In the cover letter to his application for the job, Mastrocola noted that he has more than 25 years of experience in the education field as a teacher and administrator. Before becoming Groton-Dunstable’s superintendent in 2010, he served as the assistant superintendent of schools in Peabody from 2007 to 2010.
“Having the pleasure of working in Peabody Public Schools for three years, I have a keen understanding of the education passion that parents and the community have for the school district,’’ Mastrocola wrote.
“It is my desire to have an opportunity to be a candidate for the position of superintendent of schools and demonstrate my passion and commitment to be the next education leader of the Peabody Public Schools.’’
Levine said the fact that Mastrocola has experience in a city environment was also a plus.
“Joe won the day with his interview answers and because of the way people feel about him,’’ Levine said. “Someone who has experience working in the city, that’s a natural advantage, you always want someone leading the school system that knows how to deal with cities as opposed to smaller suburbs. Certainly that was a plus for him.’’
Levine said after his duties as superintendent end on June 30, he will return to teaching graduate courses at Salem State University and Endicott College. The 64-year-old - who at times hit some turbulence in his tenure as superintendent with PCB and asbestos issues at Burke School - said he already has a two-week trip to Hawaii planned for July.
“I’m ready to take a year to do some consulting and teaching and get back to my graduate courses that I’ve been putting on hold for a year, play some golf, and do some traveling with my wife,’’ he said. “I’m ready for a year of less involvement on a day-to-day basis but my heart is here and I truly mean that.
“I didn’t know that would happen to me as interim superintendent. But I’m so enthused about this system and where it is and where it can be.’’
