By J.J. Huggins
ANDOVER — Christopher Farmer, the Gloucester superintendent, is one of four finalists for the Andover superintendent's job.
The other finalists include the current Andover assistant superintendent and superintendents from Hamilton-Wenham and Maine.
"They were all eminently qualified, eminently committed to educating children," Bill Gibson, a member of the committee who screened the 32 people who applied to replace outgoing Superintendent Claudia Bach, said after last night's School Committee meeting.
Michael Gilbert, field director for the Massachusetts Association of School Committees, which served as the consulting firm for the search, announced the four finalists. They are Farmer, Andover Assistant Superintendent Susan Nicholson, Hamilton-Wenham Regional Superintendent Marinel McGrath — who used to be the Andover assistant superintendent — and Kelly Clenchy, superintendent of Rural School Unit 26 in Maine — a regional school district for the communities of Orono, Veazie and Glenburn.
"They have a great reputation and the community is very supportive of education," Clenchy said of Andover during an interview. "I have a good solid base of teaching. I think they're really looking for someone with a good instructional background who understands how kids learn."
Clenchy spent 10 years teaching in Alberta, Canada, according to his resume.
Nicholson was the North Andover High School principal before coming to Andover in 2007. She said she would provide stability for Andover.
"I've spent a lot of time building relationships. As in any leadership position, it's all about the relationships that you've built along the way," she said.
Farmer and McGrath did not return calls seeking comment.
The pay range for the job is $180,000 to $200,000, said School Committee Chairwoman Debra Silberstein.
The search committee met with 10 of the 32 applicants, and these four people emerged. The School Committee plans to host the candidates in Andover, interview them and visit their districts.
Silberstein suggested having the candidates answer a question in writing.
"Being that one of the criteria is communication, I'd actually like to see how they write," she said.
Human Resources Director Candace Hall suggested dining with the finalists.
"You really learn a lot about a candidate by breaking bread with them," she said.
Bach, 66, has said she plans to step down, but continue working in education.
