Rix, principal at South Middle School, said his priorities would be teaching and learning for students, staff support, safety in schools and identifying financial resources.
Westfield school superintendent finalist Ronald Rix, the principal of South Middle School, said his priorities would be teaching and learning for students, staff support, safety in schools and identifying financial resources.WESTFIELD – If appointed superintendent of schools here, priorities for Ronald R. Rix will be teaching and learning for students, staff support, safety in schools and identifying financial resources.
Rix, principal at South Middle School, is the third of four candidates to interview for the position before the School Committee. He is the only internal finalist.
“I hope to spend little money,” Rix told the School Committee on Wednesday. “But, I expect to invest a lot in the preparation of our kids for the future, to streamline and reduce duplication within the School Department,” he said.
He said he will “take the lead role in making our budget align with our vision and mission and will take responsibility in advocating what we need. I am confident I can explain the needs and roles of each aspect of the School Department.”
Rix said he has a “solid background” in both public and private education and “I am proud of my educational background and I took classes that are real and relevant” in response to a query concerning his lack of a doctorate degree. Rix was a finalist for the superintendent post here four years ago when the committee hired Shirley Alvira who will retire at the close of the school year.
The middle school principal is one of two candidates who lacks a doctorate, listed as a preference in the job posting by the School Committee. The other was Melodie L. Goodwin, curriculum director for North Adams School District, who interviewed Tuesday.
In addition to being principal at South Middle School, Rix served Westfield as an assistant principal and then principal of North Middle School.
Previously he worked as a director of programming with the U.S. Department of Education and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. He is a former interim director and director of training for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Center for Substance Abuse Prevention’s national volunteer training center. And, from 1989 to 1991 was a regional manager for the U.S. Department of Education’s Northeast Regional Center for Safe and Drug Free Schools.
Rix began his career in education as a science and health teacher at Agawam High School in 1980.
Rix told the School Committee “a superintendent must have the leadership skills to get people to do things on their own, and my background has prepared me for this new challenge.
“I am proud of the accomplishments at our middle school system while being principal, and there is no other candidate that has the passion I have to see our students succeed.”
Rix holds a master’s degree in education from Westfield State College; a bachelor’s degree from Springfield College and has 60 hours of post graduate studies at the University of Virginia, University of Massachusetts, Westfield State University and Fitchburg State University.
The School Committee interviewed Maureen F. Bingham, assistant superintendent in Swampscott, Monday night, North Adams Curriculum Director Melodie Goodwin on Tuesday, and will interview Suzanne Scallion, principal of Napa, Calif., Unified School District, on Saturday morning.
The committee plans to name a new superintendent in early May.