Salem Public Schools
Dear Salem Public School Community,
This week marked the beginning of a new chapter for all of us, and I am honored to be stepping into the role of Interim Superintendent for the remainder of the school year. I am looking forward to working alongside Interim Deputy Superintendent Elizabeth Pauley, our staff and this community to continue the student-centered work that is underway across the district.
Transitions bring opportunities to center on what matters most, and I want to reaffirm that the day-to-day will remain grounded in our shared core values of belonging, equity and opportunity. These values will be evident in how we work together to ensure a safe, strong, steady and joyful close to the school year for all students and staff.
First and foremost, we will collectively reinforce routines that support teaching and learning, as well as nurture student social emotional growth and development. Upholding familiar routines and rituals are central to finishing strong, and we will lean into those routines that make our schools safe, organized and spaces where engaged learning can take place.
As the year winds down, there will be many opportunities to celebrate accomplishments as the spring is full of concerts, award ceremonies, field days, moving-on ceremonies and graduations. Having served alongside SPS educators for several years now, I have had the privilege of seeing firsthand the dedication, professionalism, and care that our students and staff bring every day. It is truly what makes this district special, and I am looking forward to continuing to give students and families our very best.
Have a great weekend!
M. Kate Carbone
Interim Superintendent
LISTEN | Public News Service: New England students use Sandy Hook Promise tools for safety
More New England schools are working with national non-profit Sandy Hook Promise as a to help students to recognize safety threats or classmates in need of help. More than 75 schools in Mass alone are using its ‘Say Something’ Anonymous Reporting System which allows students to share a concern 24 hours a day via text, phone or a school’s website.
The Salem News | Work of local high school students showcased in Marblehead photography exhibit
Photography by student-artists from local high schools were selected for the annual “Through the Student Lens’” art exhibit at the Marblehead Arts Association. This year’s exhibit, sponsored by Hunt’s Photo and Video, displays photography from local schools including Salem High School, Gloucester High School, Marblehead High School, Rockport High School, and Peabody Veterans Memorial High School, at the Marblehead Arts Association. Each of the images, available for purchase for $100, capture unique subject matters such as landscapes, local sports, architecture, and abstract themes.
Power of Place Learning Communities: Q&A with Incoming Massachusetts Education Secretary Steve Zrike
Steve Zrike has served as Superintendent of Salem Public Schools since 2020. For the past six years, Zrike has guided Salem through a period of significant change, from leading the district through the COVID-19 pandemic to advancing plans for a new high school, from redesigning the city’s approach to middle school to launching a stakeholder informed effort to develop a 10-year innovation vision for the district. Power of Place Executive Director Jane Feinberg met with Steve in his final weeks in Salem to talk about his reflections, and as he steps into his new role, what he thinks educators need most to be successful.
From Industry to the Classroom, by Mario Sousa
When I first stepped into a classroom after a dozen years in the construction industry, I quickly realized that teaching wasn’t just about what you know. It was about translating that knowledge into skills students could carry into the workforce.
Collins Middle School Drama Club Presents ‘James and the Giant Peach, Jr.’
The Collins Middle School School Drama Club, led by educators Jacob Pini and Micaiah Jones, presents its spring 2026 musical, ‘James and the Giant Peach, Jr.,’ based on the book by Roald Dahl, Thursday through Saturday, Apr. 9, 10 and 11 at the Collins Middle School Auditorium. Performances are scheduled for Thursday and Friday, Apr. 9-10, at 7 p.m., and Saturday, Apr. 11 at 2 p.m. Admission is $10 for adults, and $5 for students. Presale tickets are available at cmsdrama.ludus.com while tickets will also be available at the door.
With several projects ongoing here at Salem Public Schools, we're happy to introduce two new web pages which we are regularly updating with important information:
The Carlton Innovation School-Saltonstall School merger: salemk12.org/merger
This week, we've added two new documents: the Sarah Parker Remond Elementary School slideshow with important updates, as well as the School Prospectus. Families are also encouraged to send questions and comments to merger@salemk12.org.
The Innovation Agenda and Strategic Plan: salemk12.org/innovation
View our Innovation Advisory Group members as well as the Innovation and Futures Thinking Overview, which details the plan and process of creating a 10-year vision and innovation agenda.
We're also encouraging families to visit our Superintendent Search page, which details the process and welcomes questions and comments.
- What are the top three things that should be celebrated about the Salem Public Schools?
- What are the top three challenges facing the Salem Public School District?
- What are the top three priorities for the next Superintendent of the the Salem Public Schools?
- What are the top three characteristics of the ideal Superintendent for the Salem Public Schools?
Salem Public Schools would like to hear from members of the Salem community within the school system and in the larger community. Please take a few moments to complete this brief survey to help guide the work of the Superintendent Screening Committee and the School Committee in the efforts to select the next Superintendent for the Salem Public Schools.
Responses should be submitted no later than Wednesday, Apr. 8, 2026.
The Superintendent Screening Committee plays a meaningful and critical role in the superintendent search process. Committee members will review applications, participate in candidate interviews, and identify a slate of candidates to move forward in the process. After references are checked, the School Committee will determine the finalists.
The Superintendent Screening Committee will work in collaboration with the Collins Center for Public Management, the consultants engaged to help facilitate and advise the District throughout the process.
TIME COMMITMENT
Members of the Superintendent Screening Committee must be available to attend all scheduled meetings. Meetings will generally be held in the evening, typically between 6:00 PM and 9:00 PM, or on Saturdays between 9:00 AM and 12:00 PM.
All meetings will be held in person, with the exception of an initial planning meeting, which will take place via Zoom. Translation services will be available at meetings, and materials will be provided in the languages needed to support full participation.
The Superintendent Screening Committee will:
Attend all scheduled meetings (tentatively the weeks of April 13, April 27, May 4, and May 11);
Help create interview questions based on the position profile, with guidance from The Collins Center for Public Management;
Review applications and decide which candidates to invite for confidential interviews (materials will be shared electronically and translated as needed);
Participate in interviews with selected candidates; and
Decide which candidates will move forward to the reference checking phase of the process. The School Committee will determine the finalists after reference checks are completed.
WHY VOLUNTEER
The Salem School Committee encourages all interested individuals to apply. The goal is to form a well-balanced and inclusive Superintendent Screening Committee that reflects the diversity of the Salem community, including a range of constituencies, cultures, identities, languages, and perspectives.
The committee will include representation from students, educators, faculty and staff, caregivers, and community members, along with representation from the School Committee.
Individuals interested in serving on the Superintendent Screening Committee should complete the form at the following link by Monday, April 6, 2026.
Upon the deadline for applications, the Ad Hoc Superintendent Search Subcommittee will review and recommend individuals to be appointed as members of the Superintendent Screening Committee to the full School Committee.
Thank you for your interest in volunteering for this important role.
Join MassHealth's free webinar regarding changes coming to MassHealth required by a federal law passed in 2025 as a result of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OB3). The webinar will cover new rules for some members, including work and education requirements and more frequent renewals. Learn how these federal changes may affect you.
All three webinars will have the same information.
- Tuesday, Apr. 7, 6-7 p.m. | JOIN
- Wednesday, Apr. 8, 12-1 p.m. | JOIN
- Thursday, Apr. 9, 6-7 p.m. | JOIN
Note: Spanish language, American Sign Language, and communication access real-time translation (CART) interpreting will be provided. If you need an accommodation, please contact MassHealth’s Disability Accommodations Ombudsman at
- E: ADAAccommodations@mass.gov
- T: (617) 847-3468, TDD/TTY: 711
- T: (617) 847-3788 for hearing impaired or speech disabled.
ParentSquare is the communication platform for Salem Public Schools. Families receive communication from the district, school, and their student's classroom all in one space. Families can communicate 1-to-1 with teachers, register for parent-teacher conferences, and more.
If you are not receiving messages from ParentSquare or if you are having trouble, contact your school's front office. You can visit www.parentsquare.com for more information.