Superintendent Carol Cavanaugh (left) and School Committee Chair Nancy Cavanaugh share a booth at an event on the Town Common in 2022. PHOTO/JOHN CARDILLO

During a phone interview with the Hopkinton Independent on Friday, Superintendent of Schools Carol Cavanaugh said she considers it a “blessing to work in such a beautiful community.”

“I have enjoyed working here every single day,” she said.

Cavanaugh announced her intention to retire at the end of the school year, on June 30, 2025.

The superintendent said she made her decision known early to give the district ample time to find the best candidate as her successor.

She was hired as assistant superintendent in Hopkinton Schools on June 1, 2016, and served as acting superintendent from February 2018 to July 2018, when her role became permanent.

Cavanaugh said she decided to retire partly because her husband has been semi-retired for some time and this would allow them to spend time together. She also wants to enjoy more time with her four grandchildren, all of whom are under the age of 4.

Following retirement, the superintendent said, a lot of people take on part-time roles related to their professions. She does not rule out working in professional development in local school districts, “especially around literacy, where my passion lies.”

When asked what she would miss most, the superintendent said it was the “teaching and learning that occurs at high levels” thanks to her central office colleagues, teachers and staff.

“I have the luxury of having an assistant superintendent for finance and operations, an assistant superintendent of curriculum and instruction, a human resource director and director of student services — a nice infrastructure for me so I can dig down deep into things like test score data and work along with principal and teachers,” she said.

“I’m lucky to continue to follow my passion to educate kids at a high level.”

Cavanaugh admitted she is a bit worried about leaving the professional life, saying a huge part of her always will be an educator, a superintendent immersed in curriculum and a former high school English teacher.

“I’m not sure how I’ll feel when I don’t have that,” she said.

In an email, School Committee chair Nancy Cavanaugh said it has been an honor to serve with the superintendent.

“While I would have loved to have had her for more years ahead, I am excited for her for the next chapter in her life,” she noted.

Nancy Cavanaugh said there would be time in the months ahead to celebrate the “meaningful impacts” on the district, students and staff the superintendent had.

With the announcement so recent, the chair noted the School Committee has yet to have the opportunity to discuss the specifics of a search for her successor.

She added the community should expect to see work on the search begin immediately.

Nancy Cavanaugh said the School Committee in the past has used the services of consultants such as the New England School Development Council (NESDEC) to assist in superintendent searches.

“I would expect that would be considered for this search as well,” Nancy Cavanaugh said.

“The process itself will rely on multiple levels of community involvement and engagement, some of which will be discussed at our School Committee meeting next week,” she added.