NEW BEDFORD — The our finalists presented to the School Committee earlier this month for the superintendent position will visit New Bedford Public Schools next week, spending the day in the district and visiting several schools.

Public meet-and-greet events for NBPS families and city residents will be held with each candidate. Each candidate’s visit to the district will conclude with their public interview before the School Committee, to be held in the Keith Middle School Auditorium.

The School Committee is slated to vote to appoint the next Superintendent during the week of March 26; the new Superintendent is slated to begin his or her duties on July 1.

Schedule of Finalists’ Visits:

Monday, March 19: Robert Gerardi, Jr.
4:30 p.m. – Meet and Greet with NBPS Families: Keith Middle School Community Room
6:00 p.m. – Public Interview: Keith Middle School Auditorium

Tuesday, March 20: Heather Larkin
4:30 p.m. – Meet and Greet with NBPS Families: Keith Middle School Community Room
6:00 p.m. – Public Interview: Keith Middle School Auditorium

Wednesday, March 21: Ana Riley
4:30 p.m. – Meet and Greet with NBPS Families: Keith Middle School Community Room
6:00 p.m. – Public Interview: Keith Middle School Auditorium

Friday, March 23: Thomas Anderson
4:30 p.m. – Meet and Greet with NBPS Families: Keith Middle School Community Room
6:00 p.m. – Public Interview: Keith Middle School Auditorium

About the Finalists:
Thomas Anderson currently serves as the superintendent of schools in Randolph, a position he has held since 2014. Before serving as superintendent in Randolph, he was an instructional superintendent in the District of Columbia Public Schools in Washington, D.C., from 2011-2014; the founding principal/executive director of Edison Learning Larry Hawkins Chicago International Charter School in Chicago, Illinois from 2010-2011; and a principal in the Montgomery County Public Schools in Maryland from 2006-2010. Prior to those roles he worked as an English teacher in the public schools of Montgomery County, Maryland, and East Hartford, Connecticut. Anderson holds a bachelor’s degree in communications from the University of Rhode Island and a master’s degree in curriculum and instruction from Howard University.

Robert J. Gerardi, Jr. currently serves as the superintendent of schools in Maynard, a position he has held since 2011. Before serving as superintendent in Maynard, he was the superintendent of schools in Woonsocket, R.I., from 2008-2011; assistant superintendent for curriculum in the North Providence (R.I.) Public Schools from 2005-2008; a principal in the Cranston (R.I.) Public Schools from 2003-2005; and an assistant principal in the Pawtucket (R.I.) Public Schools from 1996-2003. Prior to those roles, he worked as a technology teacher in the Burrillville (R.I.) Public Schools, Lynn Public Schools, and Swampscott Public Schools. Gerardi holds a bachelor’s degree in industrial arts from Rhode Island College, a master’s degree in educational administration from Providence College, and a Ph.D. in educational administration from Boston College.

Heather D. Larkin currently serves as the director of guidance and pupil personnel services at Greater New Bedford Regional Vocational-Technical High School, a position she has held since 2016. Before serving as director of guidance at Greater New Bedford Voc-Tech, she was the director of special education and student services in the Middleborough Public Schools from 2014 to 2016; assistant superintendent of student services for the New Bedford Public Schools from 2009 to 2014; and before that served as director of guidance and pupil personnel services, after serving as director of the safe schools and healthy students grant. Prior to those roles she served as facilitator of the foster children’s advocacy program in the New Bedford Public Schools. Larkin holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Southeastern Massachusetts University, a master’s degree in clinical and behavioral psychology from UMass Dartmouth, and an Ed.D. in educational leadership from Northeastern University.

Ana C. Riley currently serves as the superintendent of schools in Portsmouth, R.I., a position she has held since 2014. Before serving as superintendent in Portsmouth, she was the superintendent of Dartmouth Public Schools from 2011-2014 after serving as assistant superintendent of Dartmouth Public Schools from 2008-2011; and the principal at an elementary school and a middle school in the Fall River Public Schools from 2003-2008, after serving as an assistant principal in Fall River. Prior to those roles, she worked as a science teacher at B.M.C. Durfee High School, as well as a middle school and an alternative high school, in the Fall River Public Schools. Riley holds a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Regis College and a master’s degree in school administration from Fitchburg State University, and has completed coursework toward an Ed.D. in educational leadership from Nova Southeastern University and toward a certificate of advanced educational leadership from the Harvard Graduate School of Education.

--New Bedford Schools

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