VERGENNES — One of the two finalists for the post of Addison Northwest Supervisory Union superintendent withdrew his candidacy late last week, according to ANwSU officials, leaving ANwSU with just one finalist for the job.
Former South Burlington Assistant Superintendent and Vermont School Board Association Director Winton Goodrich told the ANwSU superintendent search committee that he had one job offer already and was a finalist for another post.
According to an email sent to all ANwSU staff by a search committee member, Goodrich will accept the first offer if not offered the second.
Current ANwSU Assistant Superintendent and Addison Central School Principal Wayne Howe also recently withdrew his candidacy after accepting an offer to become the Northfield Elementary School principal.
That leaves current Orleans Southwest Supervisory Union Superintendent JoAn Canning to visit ANwSU schools on Monday, meet with the public during that afternoon, and sit with the ANwSU board that evening for a final interview.
Canning, who has both an undergraduate degree and a doctorate from the University of Vermont, has served in Hardwick as the Orleans Southwest school head since 2010. That supervisory union includes nine schools and about 1,100 students, according to her résumé. Before then, she was an assistant superintendent in South Burlington, her hometown, for six years.
Canning also has extensive experience in special education, including a three-year stint in ANwSU between 1991 and 1994.
The ANwSU board is inviting members of the public to VUHS at 3:30 p.m. on Monday to meet and question Canning. Her résumé is also available for review at anwsu.org by clicking on the “Superintendent Screening Committee” link.
According to an email from ANwSU board chairwoman Laurie Gutowski, “The school board will use your feedback from the forums to assist with their final decision.”
The ANwSU board will meet at 6 p.m. on that Monday and interview Canning in an executive session.
Typically, if such a visit and interview day goes well, a job offer is made at its conclusion.
Goodrich’s withdrawal is not entirely surprising. ANwSU Superintendent Tom O’Brien, whose soon-to-conclude 13-year tenure is one of the longest in Vermont, confirmed this week there are at least 16 anticipated superintendency openings in the state for the next school year.
Andy Kirkaldy may be reached at [email protected].