BPS Superintendent Finalist Welch Outlines Plans for Teacher Pipeline, Chronic Absenteeism

BOSTON — July 22, 2026 — Boston Public Schools superintendent finalist Dr. Tommy Welch fielded questions from a panel of educators and school leaders Wednesday in a 90-minute public interview organized by the BPS Superintendent Search Committee. Welch, Region 1 Superintendent in Boston, addressed teacher pipeline development, chronic absenteeism, grade reconfigurations, and equity continuity, telling panelists he would direct ESSER funds — roughly $300 million over two years before a September 2024 spend-out deadline — primarily to school leadership teams. On teacher recruitment, he cited Boston's roughly 45 colleges and universities as an underused resource and described internal pipelines at the Otis and Umana schools that move paraprofessionals into teaching roles. He credited a Region 1 principal with piloting a platform called Nudge Messaging to boost family engagement on attendance, and named Keith Helmold, Marissa Merdinger, and Wentzis Raphael as central office talent he would build on. The other finalist is Mary Skipper, Superintendent of Somerville Public Schools; the Boston School Committee interview was scheduled for the same evening from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.