Gallagher: Collaboration is Key to Northville Schools' success

The questions aimed at Northville Assistant Superintendent Mary Kay Gallagher varied, but her answers oftentimes came down to one general theme: collaboration.

Gallagher was the last of four interviewed this week for the job of superintendent of Northville schools. She seeks to replace the superintendent of almost 20 years, Leonard Rezmierski, who will retire at the end of the school year. Gallagher was interviewed publicly by the seven-member Northville school board Wednesday. The board named her as one of two finalists for the job in a special meeting after her interview.

Questions ranged from how she would handle public relations to what the biggest risks she has taken to her experience building a team.

Gallagher told Northville Patch after her interview that she came back to the collaboration theme on purpose.

"It's through collaboration that you bring diverse perspectives together and you grow strong," Gallagher said. "Every piece of work that I have done … all of that work was hands down made better by a perspective a person brought who was able to think differently about something. I do believe in the collective power of the resources we have."

Gallagher first came to Northville schools as an early childhood program coordinator in 1985. She worked in various positions within the early childhood program until 1994 when she became principal of . In 2006 she was named to her current position as assistant superintendent for instructional services.

Board President Marilyn Price asked Gallagher what she viewed as the district's biggest challenges.

"We face unprecedented times in terms of school funding," Gallagher said. "Our biggest challenge is maintaining our commitment to excellence, to holding on to what we value and to engaging in tough conversations."

Price also asked what specific capabilities Gallagher has that set her apart from other candidates.

"A commitment to student learning and a strong commitment to collaborative work," Gallagher said.

That means being able to successfully manage different sides of issues, she said.

"Consensus is defined by the will of the group as evident even to those who oppose it," she said. "You can't make progress and you can't move forward if you wait around for agreement on the parts of every individual."

During her interview Gallagher was able to point to specific examples of successes she has had while working for the Northville School District, such as helping elected officials and the public understand what is happening in the district.

"I do firmly believe we have a culture of excellence and we have great assets as a district upon which we can build," Gallagher said. "My interest is feeling like I can serve the mission and vision of Northville schools in the role of superintendent."

The other finalist is Shawn Lewis-Lakin, superintendent of Manchester Public Schools. The school board expects to make its decision by Dec. 17.