Following site visits earlier in the week, the School Committee on Thursday conducted interviews with the two finalists for the superintendent position.

The finalists are Evan Bishop, principal at Hopkinton High School, and Mark McLaughlin, superintendent of the South Hadley School District.

Evan Bishop

Bishop has worked in the district since 2005, becoming principal at the high school in 2013. Prior to that, he was an assistant principal and school counselor.

He earned his principal/assistant principal license for grades 9-12 from Boston University, a master’s in school counseling from Suffolk University and his undergraduate degree in sociology from Fairfield University. In 2017, he earned his superintendent/assistant superintendent license.

Bishop noted that Hopkinton is like a second home to him, and he has no interest becoming superintendent anywhere else.

“As an educator, you want to find a system that has the same core values you do,” Bishop said. He added that everything he does is student-centered and based on what is best for all.

Bishop said he has high expectations and tries to be caring and compassionate in his leadership and decision making.

“Hopkinton is a special place,” Bishop said. “It has amazing kids. We have such talented and dedicated staff, teachers, administrators. … It’s like a special sauce. I cannot imagine doing this work in a better place.”

As principal, Bishop said he has reaped the benefits of all the great work in pre-K through Grade 8 and enjoyed his walk-through of the other buildings during the search process.

Bishop said he saw a positive culture and inclusion in the buildings that makes him excited about possibly taking the next step and becoming superintendent.

He said a leader is a culture builder, someone who brings people together, and is supportive and makes connections. Bishop believes he has earned people’s trust, and that it is maintained by following through with decisions.

He said he attends school events and is visible to the public and will continue that to build community and listen to people’s input and concerns.

Bishop acknowledges the job comes with people not always agreeing with his decisions. He emphasized it is critical they know the reasons behind them.

He said it is important to be transparent and honest in difficult conversations, whether with unions or parents.

“I never want an environment where people cannot be honest with me about their feedback,” Bishop noted.

Regarding budgets, Bishop said it is important to start early and “think creatively and outside the box.” He spoke about pursuing grants and possibly bringing in revenue by allowing more participation in the international student program.

He said preserving “student facing” positions is key.

About DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion), Bishop appreciates the “changing dynamics” of the community and said the focus is on creating an environment where staff and students feel “seen, valued, heard and respected.”

Bishop said access to opportunities can’t be a “one-off initiative” but instead “baked into what you do.” He cited the unified sports program as an example.

He also described working with the student services coordinator and learning a lot from her about special education (SPED). There is a push to expand the 18-to-21-year-old programs to allow more work opportunities in the community.

Bishop spoke about working successfully across the district on initiatives like the safety school task force with police, fire and administrators and development of a bullying prevention plan.

Bishop said he has successfully navigated shifting from one role to another in the district and does not anticipate problems with colleagues if he becomes superintendent.

“I’m a distributive leadership kind of person and a big believer in creating teams,” Bishop said.

In conclusion, he reiterated that he takes a “student-centered” approach, cares about kids and the community and can build trust and relationships with stakeholders. If hired, Bishop said, “I’ll work my tail off.”

Mark McLaughlin

McLaughlin was named acting superintendent in South Hadley in 2021 and interim superintendent in January 2023, then was promoted to the job in a full-time capacity under a one-year deal in February 2024.

Prior to South Hadley, McLaughlin was the superintendent for the Merrimack School District in New Hampshire for two years after serving as assistant superintendent there for 10 years.

He received his doctorate in education from the UMass Lowell College of Education, a master’s in English literature from Boston College and a B.A. in English from Saint Anselm College.

McLaughlin said he is interested in working in Hopkinton because he found the district’s strategic plan “fascinating” and is impressed by how it articulated student needs. Touring the buildings earlier in the day, McLaughlin said he felt caring in the schools that matched his values and interests.

He said coming into a pre-existing culture, he would do a lot of “listening and questioning” and reach out to parents, non-parents and community partners like police while respecting history and traditions.

Building relationships with groups involves “meaningful dialogue” and “staying consistent” while understanding micro and macro issues, he said.

McLaughlin spoke about being visible at athletic events or other student activities and being proactive about meeting with parents and other community members through various means.

During difficult conversations with unions, for example, there must be “give and take,” he said, and open lines of communication so awkwardness can be worked through and become productive. Honesty is the key, McLaughlin said.

When parents disagree with him, he said his role is to know the “why” behind the decisions and articulate it honestly. “Playing is not helpful to anyone. Be a straight shooter,” McLaughlin said.

He spoke about tapping into resources at the senior center in South Hadley, which resulted in older residents “having their skills brought to bear on the newer generation.”

Whether helping on the playground or acting as guest speakers about history, the senior citizens have benefited the school district and simultaneously gained an understanding of its needs.

McLaughlin noted the federal approach to public education is making times uncertain financially. He described South Hadley facing $2 million in cuts and how bringing special education transportation in-house and making routes more efficient saved $600,000.

As a result, the district had to cut 19 teachers instead of 31. While not wanting to cut educators, McLaughlin said he is proud the district was able to preserve positions by changing the way it delivers services.

He said state standards should be the “guiding principles” of public education. He noted in addition to core subjects, he recognizes some kids go to school for other reasons. In South Hadley, he cited the automotive and arts programs.

Emphasize the core contents, but “not at a detriment to other entry points. … Make sure to support teaching the “whole child” as much as possible, he added.

McLaughlin said personal ideology should have no place in public education.

“We have to know our place, and it is complicated enough.”

He noted that every child has worth and value and “traditional boxes have to be expanded.”

The DEI committee (at his district now) helped him understand the “lenses of different students. … In the space we are in, we are trying to build people who can be thoughtful in the world by our acknowledgment of who they really are.”

Dealing with staff, McLaughlin said, “It is important they know I know” the role they each play in the district and the challenges they face.

He also spoke about creating “conditions for independence” and having the least restrictive environment possible for special education students.

If named superintendent in Hopkinton, McLaughlin said he would do more listening than talking and come to a consensus “as to where we want to be as a team.”