Staff

John R. Sullivan, Jr., Ed.D., Executive Director
Dr. Sullivan received his A.B. from The College of the Holy Cross and both his A.M.T. and Ed.D. from Harvard University. He began his career in education as a teacher of English and Latin in a suburban Boston high school. He has worked with the New England School Development Council (NESDEC) since 1967, when he created the Field Service Division (now Planning Services), and has been Executive Director of NESDEC since 1972. NESDEC has offered our Executive Search Program since January 1982, and Dr. Sullivan has participated in the searches for superintendents, assistant superintendents, and principals in the northeast region of the United States. He has conducted workshops on Executive Searches and on Career Movement/Mentoring. Dr. Sullivan has worked on school facility planning projects in over 150 school districts throughout the New England region since 1967.

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Arthur L. Bettencourt, Ed.D., Assistant Executive Director
Dr. Bettencourt received his B.A. from Salem State College, his Master's degree from Tufts University, and his Doctorate from Boston University. He served as a Superintendent of Schools in Massachusetts for 21 years. Prior to working as a superintendent, he held several administrative positions in public schools. Dr. Bettencourt has been a Lecturer at Simmons College in Boston, Massachusetts, and is active in the training and preparation of educators at both the graduate and undergraduate levels. He has also offered numerous professional development workshops in school governance, planning and organizational development, leadership entry, career path development, and curriculum design. While serving as a superintendent, Dr. Bettencourt administered several school construction and renovation projects at both the elementary and secondary levels. He is on the Board of Directors of the National School Development Council and presently serves as its Vice President. Dr. Bettencourt coordinates all of NESDEC's executive search and planning projects.

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NESDEC Associate Staff

John P. Avery, Ph.D.
Staff Associate, Planning Services, Learning and Teaching
Dr. John P. Avery received his Bachelor’s degree from Fitchburg State College, his Master’s from Worcester State College and his Ph.D. from the University of Connecticut. He served as a Superintendent of Schools for the Bristol-Plymouth Regional Technical School District in Massachusetts for 12 years. Prior to working as a superintendent, Dr. Avery served in several administrative positions in Massachusetts and New Hampshire. He is an adjunct faculty member at Fitchburg State College, Westfield State College and the University of Massachusetts (Boston). Dr. Avery frequently consults in the areas of facilities planning and educational programming.

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Gary G. Baker, Ed.D.
Staff Associate, Executive Search Program, Planning Services
Dr. Gary Baker received his B.A. from the University of New Hampshire, a Master's degree in Teaching from the Harvard Graduate School of Education, and a Doctorate from Boston University. He has been a teacher, administrator and superintendent of schools as well as a college instructor. Dr. Baker is a member of the Suburban School Superintendents organization, a select group of suburban school superintendents who serve quality districts in a high-performance manner. He has been a workshop leader and textbook author for The Amherst Project and its Committee on the Study of History. Dr. Baker joined the NESDEC staff in 2002.

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Margery T. Clark, M.Ed.
Staff Associate, Planning Services
Ms. Clark received a B.A. from the University of Connecticut, Storrs and a M.Ed. from Lesley University, Cambridge, MA. She has served as a teacher, gifted & specialist coordinator, and an elementary principal for many years. Ms. Clark works in planning for NESDEC.

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James A. Connelly, C.A.G.S.
Staff Associate, Executive Search Program
Mr. Connelly received his B.S. degree from Southern Connecticut State University, a Master's degree from Teachers College/Columbia University, and a Professional Diploma of Advanced Studies from Teachers College/Columbia University. He has been a teacher, administrator, central office administrator and superintendent of schools. In addition, Mr. Connelly was a senior specialist for the Northeast Superintendents' Leadership Council at the Education Alliance at Brown University. He is also an adjunct member of the faculty at Southern Connecticut State University and currently heads NESDEC's Executive Search Team in Connecticut.

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Kenneth L. DeBenedictis, Ed.D.
Staff Associate, Executive Search Program
Dr. DeBenedictis received his B.S. in Education from Northeastern University, his M.Ed. from Boston University, a CAGS in Administration and Supervision from Boston University, and his Doctorate in Education from Boston College. He was Superintendent of the Hollis-Brookline Schools, SAU #41 in New Hampshire and was recognized as the New Hampshire School Superintendent of the Year in 2004. He has been a classroom teacher, a district principal and a principal (recognized as Massachusetts School Principal of the Year and National Distinguished School Principal in 1989) as well as an assistant superintendent with major responsibilities for K-12 curriculum and instruction programs. He has written several articles and taught graduate level courses at Fitchburg State College and Plymouth State University.

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William G. Erickson, Ed.D.
Staff Associate, Executive Search Program
Dr. William G. Erickson received his Bachelor’s degree from Fitchburg State College, a Master of Education from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst and his Doctorate from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. His administrative experience in education spans almost 35 years, including 14 years as a superintendent in Vermont and Massachusetts.

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Charles H. Ferris, Ed.D.
Staff Associate, Executive Search Program, Planning Services
Dr. Charles "Bud" Ferris received his B.A. degree from Clark University, a Master's degree from Worcester Polytechnic Institute, a Certification of Advanced Graduate Studies from Worcester State College, and a Doctorate from Nova University. Dr. Ferris has been a teacher, headmaster, principal and superintendent of schools. He has also been an instructor at Fitchburg State College and Salem State College.

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Ronald J. Fitzgerald, Ed.D.
Staff Associate, Executive Search Program
Dr. Fitzgerald received his B.S., Master's and Doctorate degrees from the University of Massachusetts. He has been a teacher, Director of Research for the Massachusetts Advisory Council on Education, and Superintendent of the Minuteman Regional Technical School District (MA), a post he held for 28 years. Dr. Fitzgerald is also an adjunct professor at the University of Massachusetts, Boston University, and Fitchburg State College.

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Richard H. Goodman, Ed.D.
Project Director, Research and Development
Dr. Goodman earned his Bachelor’s degree from Dartmouth College, an M.A.T. from Wesleyan University, and a Doctorate from Harvard University. He served for two decades as Executive Director of the New Hampshire School Boards Association and New Hampshire School Administrators Association where he conducted scores of workshops for school boards and superintendents. A former superintendent of schools, Dr. Goodman was Chair of the NSBA Committee that produced the first edition of Becoming a Better Board Member. He co-authored, Getting There from Here -- School Board-Superintendent Collaboration: Creating a School Governance Team Capable of Raising Student Achievement under a grant from the Kellogg Foundation. In addition to his research projects, Dr. Goodman conducts governance workshops for school boards and superintendents in New England.

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Ellen W. Kelly, M.Ed.
Staff Associate, Planning Services
Ms. Kelly received her B.A. from Grinnell College and her M.Ed. from Boston University. She has worked as a principal of an elementary school and an early childhood center. She has opened a new school and a renovated school. In each case, she worked with architects during the construction/ renovation of the buildings prior to their opening. She also has experience at the middle school level and has taught graduate level courses in organizational development. Ms. Kelly has worked as an elementary specialist, school facility planner and has been an elected school committee member and town meeting member. Ms. Kelly is a demographic specialist for NESDEC's Planning Services.

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Donald G. Kennedy, Ed.D.
Senior Staff Associate/Team Leader, Planning Services, Learning and Teaching
Dr. Kennedy received his Bachelor’s degree from Colby College, his Masters from Wesleyan University and his Doctorate from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. He has been Superintendent of Schools in Maynard and Duxbury, Massachusetts and has held numerous administrative positions in the Weston, Massachusetts School District. Dr. Kennedy has taught at the graduate level and has consulted with many school districts in matters of curriculum, facility planning, organizational development and early childhood education. He has over 35 years experience in education with 17 years experience as a superintendent of schools. Dr. Kennedy has done extensive work in the area of school enrollment forecasting, and has served as NESDEC Team Leader for over one hundred projects for Planning Services.

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John H. Kennedy, M.A.
Staff Associate, Planning Services
Mr. John Kennedy has been an educator for over thirty years. He received his B.A. from Villanova University and a M.A. from Boston College. He has served as a director of curriculum, assessment and professional development and a K-12 curriculum coordinator. Prior to that, he was a department chairperson and classroom teacher. He has had extensive experience with curriculum mapping, standards alignment and assessment, and professional development planning and implementation. He has also served as a Title I Director. Mr. Kennedy has led several Department of Education workshops and seminars on a range of topics related to improving academic achievement. He has served as an Assistant Chair on an NEASC Visiting Committee, and he was a member of the committee that developed the Massachusetts Social Studies Curriculum Framework.

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Timothy W. McCormack, C.A.S.
Staff Associate, Executive Search Program, Planning Services
Mr. McCormack received his B.S. from the University of Maine, Farmington, a Master of Education degree from the University of Maine, Orono, and a Certificate of Advanced Studies from the University of Maine, Orono. He has served as a high school teacher, a high school and middle school principal, assistant superintendent and a superintendent of schools. Mr. McCormack is a NESDEC Associate for the state of Maine and serves as an Executive Search and Planning consultant for New England.

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Edward J. Myers, Ed.D.
Staff Associate, Executive Search Program
Dr. Myers received his B.A. degree from Providence College, a Master’s degree from Rhode Island College, and a Doctorate from Boston University. He has been a teacher, central office administrator, and superintendent in Rhode Island for many years. He joined NESDEC in 1997 as an Executive Search Associate. Dr. Myers also teaches at the college level.

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Michael J. Palladino, Ph.D.
Staff Associate, Executive Search Program, Planning Services
Dr. Palladino received his B.S. and a Master's degree in Education from Bridgewater State College and a C.A.G.S. in special education and rehabilitation from Northeastern University. He earned his Doctorate in Education Administration from Boston College. Dr. Palladino was Executive Director of the Project ACCEPT/MetroWest Education Collaborative for almost thirty years and has served as president of the Massachusetts Organization of Education Collaboratives.

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Joanne G. Rys
Staff Associate, Executive Search Program
Ms. Rys has served as a member of a local school committee and has been a search consultant for the Massachusetts Association of School Committees. In her prior work with MASC, she has served as a Field Service Representative, Associate Director and Interim Executive Director. In addiiton to her work as an Executive Search Associate, Ms. Rys is also responsible for school board training in many specific areas. She has been a NESDEC associate since 2001.

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Florence Seldin, Ed.D.
Staff Associate, Executive Search Program, Planning Services
Dr. Seldin earned her B.A. from Brooklyn College, an M.Ed. from Springfield College, and a Doctorate from the University of Rochester. She has extensive experience as a teacher, principal, superintendent, lecturer, and workshop presenter. Dr. Seldin joined NESDEC in 1991 and has conducted many successful executive searches in New England. She also works with school districts on policy book development and strategic planning.

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David J. Tobin, C.A.G.S.
Staff Associate, Planning Services, Executive Search Program
Mr. Tobin received his B.S. degree in Education from Worcester State College and a M.A. in teaching from Clark University. He was Superintendent/Director of the Assabet Valley Regional Vocational School District for twenty years and has served as a consultant to numerous school districts and to private industry. Mr. Tobin had a major consulting role in our projects for the Nashua (NH) Vocational Technical High School and for the Worcester (MA) Technical High School.

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James F. Walsh, Ed.D.
Staff Associate, Executive Search Program
Dr. James Walsh received his B.A. from Boston College, a Master's degree from State College, Boston, and a Doctorate from Boston College. Dr. Walsh has been a teacher, administrator, a Deputy Superintendent for the Boston, MA Public Schools and was Superintendent for the Brookline, MA Public Schools for thirteen years. He is also an adjunct member of the faculty at Boston College, a Senior Instructor at Cambridge College, and an Associate Professor at Simmons College. Dr. Walsh is a member of the Suburban School Superintendents organization, a select group of suburban school superintendents who serve quality districts in a high-performance manner.

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Bruce E. Willard, Ed.D.
Staff Associate, Executive Search Program
Dr. Bruce Willard received his Bachelor's degree in Education from Plymouth State College, a Master's degree from Hofstra University, a Certificate of Advanced Studies from the University of Vermont, and a Doctorate from the University of Massachusetts School of Education. Dr. Willard has been a teacher, principal, and superintendent of schools. He has also been a Trustee at Smith Vocational School and a member of the adjunct faculty at Smith College.

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Joseph L. Wood, Ed.D.
Staff Associate, Planning Services
Dr. Joseph L. Wood received his Bachelor's and Master's degrees from Boston State College and his Doctorate from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. He served as a Superintendent of Schools for the Berkshire Hills Regional School District in Massachusetts for nine years and in South Windsor, Connecticut for twenty years. Prior to working as a superintendent, Dr. Wood served as a principal, foreign language department chair and teacher. He has also offered numerous professional development workshops and was the 2005 recipient of the Connecticut Association of School Superintendents Presidential Award.

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William G. Zimmerman, Jr., Ed.D.
Senior Staff Associate, Planning Services, Executive Search Program
Dr. Zimmerman received his B.S. from the University of New Hampshire, and both his M.Ed. and Ed.D. from the University of Miami. He began his career in education as a music teacher in Maine. He then taught educational administration at the graduate level. He has been a superintendent of schools for 28 years, most recently in Wayland, Massachusetts where he directed numerous and significant school building projects. He joined the NESDEC staff as Senior Associate in Planning and Management and the Executive Search Program in 1992. Dr. Zimmerman presents workshops on job-seeking skills for educational administrators and school facility planning. He is co-author of the book, Getting There from Here -- School Board-Superintendent Collaboration: Creating a School Governance Team Capable of Raising Student Achievement under a grant from the Kellogg Foundation and has conducted numerous workshops on school district governance for school boards and superintendents in New England.

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