EASTHAMPTON — After a “rigorous” search process, the Easthampton School Committee has selected longtime Springfield Public School District educator Michelle Balch as the district’s new superintendent.

The committee voted unanimously to offer the position to Balch Tuesday night with the full support of the Superintendent Search Committee.

“I think this is like a once-in-a-lifetime moment,” Balch said on Wednesday. “What a privilege to serve the Easthampton community.”

Cynthia Kennedy, assistant superintendent of the Athol-Royalston Regional School District, was another finalist for the position. 

During her interview, Kennedy said that, while she loves her current position, she is ready to grow and take on a position with more hands-on connection. She stated that she has been watching Easthampton and waiting for the superintendent position to open up, because the community’s character and close-knit nature struck her as special.

“Easthampton specifically appeals to me because of the strong and vibrant arts community,” she said, noting that the students she talked to during her site visits emphasized the importance of creative expression and extracurriculars in their education.

Easthampton received 10 applications for the superintendent job. Balch will replace interim Superintendent Maureen Binienda, whose contract will expire at the end of the school year, pending successful contract negotiations.

“It’s not something that they didn’t have,” School Committee member Eric Guyette said in reference to the other finalists. “It’s that I saw something that Dr. Balch has.”

During Balch’s public interview last week, School Committee members were taken with her ability to learn the strengths and weaknesses of the district intimately in a short period of time, as well as her humanized, individualized approach to student success.

Committee members also lauded Balch’s clear preparation for the role, as she presented them with a 30-60-90-day entry plan when she introduced herself — all wrapped up in a maroon folder, Easthampton’s school color.

“There was a feeling that this is a person who is brilliant … this was a person who seemed truly dedicated to deep connection,” said committee member Ben Hersey.

Balch has spent her entire career working in the Springfield Public School District, working her way up to prominent leadership positions over almost 20 years. She began her career in Springfield as a special education teacher in 2005, and has since served as a senior administrator, interim superintendent, and in other administrative roles. Currently, she serves as the district’s chief instructional officer.

School Committee Chair Laura Scott said the only question about Balch that continued to nag at her mind was “why Easthampton?”

When asked this question during her interview though, Balch’s answer more than satisfied the committee’s curiosity. She said that working in a district as large as Springfield leaves less opportunity for close, individual connections or truly seeing the fruits of her labors. She believes that her individualized approach to education would serve a smaller, close-knit community like Easthampton well, and allow her to get to know each and every student.

“I think the universe has owed Easthampton a favor for a minute,” said Scott. “And she has come to town to pay it up.”

Scott and members of the search committee emphasized the rigor and attention to detail that were prioritized throughout this search process, after the district’s last superintendent search put Easthampton in the national spotlight when superintendent candidate Vito Perrone’s job offer was rescinded over his use of the term “ladies” in an email to district officials. Perrone subsequently was hired as the superintendent of the Hampshire Regional School District, and filed a lawsuit in October against the Easthampton officials involved in his former hiring process.

Subsequently, the position was offered to Erica Faginski-Stark, who withdrew her candidacy after city students voiced concern over alleged “transphobic rhetoric” she had posted online.

Committee members were excited by the initiatives that Balch mentioned implementing in Springfield, and potentially bringing to Easthampton — such as the “Portrait of a Graduate” program, which emphasizes community engagement in building a vision for the district’s future, and “Student Summits” where students speak their minds and administrators are simply there to listen.

“We have unanimous input from community members, including students, that this person is a good fit for our district,” said committee member Megan Harvey. “I don’t take that lightly.”

Alexa Lewis can be reached at alewis@gazettenet.com.