SHREWSBURY ― One of the longest-tenured school superintendents in Central Massachusetts is stepping away, as Shrewsbury’s Joseph Sawyer announced during a School Committee meeting on Oct. 8 that he will retire at the end of the school year.
Sawyer, who has been superintendent for the past 16 years, said he will be pursuing a career change, leaving the Shrewsbury Public Schools after nearly a 30-year career in education.
“I am sharing with the community that effective at the end of June, I plan to retire from this position,” Sawyer said during the meeting. “It has been a wonderful professional opportunity. Many of you know that I live here in the community, I raised my family and three daughters here and I’ve been so fortunate to be a part of this community.”
Sawyer came to Shrewsbury in 1997 when he took over as assistant principal at Floral Street School. He become principal of that school in 2001. He continued to climb upward in the district, becoming assistant superintendent in 2008 and then superintendent in 2009, taking over for the retiring Anthony Bent.
During his time at Shrewsbury, Sawyer oversaw construction of the new Maj. Howard W. Beal School and Sherwood Middle School and guided the district through the years impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, while also balancing three daughters who graduated from Shrewsbury High in 2020, 2022 and 2025.
“I think we have the best school district anywhere on many different fronts. I’m very proud of what we have been able to do for our students and what our community has done in supporting teaching and learning,” Sawyer said.
Shrewsbury Schools Superintendent Joseph M. Sawyer, seen here a 2018 file photo.
Sawyer said in his address to the community that he is not retiring from work.
“I think the time is right both professionally and personally to make that career change,” Sawyer said. “I don’t have anything lined up, I don’t know what I’ll be doing as of July 1, but I believe it is the right time for me to do something different. I also believe this is a good time to do this kind of leadership transition – we have both strategic and financial stability. I have an enormous amount of trust in the School Committee to run a professional search and make a decision about who my successor will be.”
School Committee Chair Erin Boucher at the meeting credited Sawyer for his leadership of the district through diverse challenges, including two operational overrides, most recently in 2021.
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“Among his many accomplishments, he’s led the district through the pandemic; the construction of two new schools, which serve as models for schools throughout the commonwealth; and two operational overrides,” Boucher said. “He’s always remained deeply committed to the success of every learner in our district. As both a parent and a School Committee member, while this news is extremely bittersweet, we are incredibly grateful for the legacy of excellence he’ll leave behind.”
The School Committee did not describe what kind of search process would be used to find the next superintendent or whether an interim will be appointed.
“We are going to be committed to a thorough and inclusive process that reflects the values of our community and puts students at the center of every decision,” Boucher said.
This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Shrewsbury Superintendent Joseph Sawyer to leave at end of school year