In the wake of Evan Bishop’s appointment as district superintendent, Hopkinton High School assistant principal Justin Pominville will become interim principal for a year. English Department subject leader Sarah Ellam will step into the assistant principal role, also on an interim basis.

The School Committee met Friday afternoon to discuss these transitions. Superintendent Carol Cavanaugh explained that the hiring of principals falls under a superintendent’s duties.

Because she retires on June 30, she said it is more important that Bishop be comfortable with the leadership team as he begins his new role.

Cavanaugh said as it becomes later in the school year, the pool of candidates for positions becomes drier.

“We think this is the most thoughtful and strategic path forward,” the superintendent said of making in-house appointments.

The superintendent said Pominville is a trusted administrator who has meaningful relationships with students, faculty, staff and families. She described him as a “deep thinker … who is cautious before he makes a decision but does not waffle. He is strong in his convictions.”

According to his biography on the district’s website, Pominville has served as assistant principal at HHS for 11 years. Before that, he was dean of students at Uxbridge High School for four years and coordinator of the alternative program for nine years.

Pominville earned his master’s degree in educational leadership from American International College and his undergraduate degree in political science and economics from Salve Regina.

Having Ellam move up to fill Pominville’s assistant principal position on a temporary basis “feels good for Evan’s team building,” Cavanaugh said.

Whether Ellam remains in that role is contingent on whether Pominville secures a permanent job as principal after a year as interim, she explained.

According to LinkedIn, Ellam has been teaching English at HHS for nearly 23 years. She earned a master’s degree in education from Fitchburg State University and a bachelor’s degree in English and gender studies from the University of Notre Dame.

The superintendent also praised the other assistant principal, Laura Theis, for being an important part of the high school’s leadership team.
Carol Cavanaugh said the committee should check with legal counsel as to whether it has to do a search for a permanent principal after the interim period is finished.

Chair Nancy Cavanaugh recalled that Bishop served as an interim principal before securing the job permanently but could not remember if a formal search was conducted.

“It’s not nepotism … but some people may feel they did not get a fair shot at the job,” said member Susan Stephenson.

Member Kyla McSweeney said the committee should talk to Bishop about whether he wants to open the position to other candidates in the future.

Carol Cavanaugh said if that happens, the process should start around February of 2026.

McSweeney noted the Worcester district recently appointed an in-house superintendent without a search.

“This feels like a good place to be. [It’s] just right going forward,” Nancy Cavanaugh said.

The superintendent said the high school faculty and staff were to be notified of the decisions on Friday and communication would be sent out Monday to the larger high school community and parents.