By Carol Britton Meyer

After hearing through the grapevine a year ago that the Hull Superintendent of Schools position would open upon the retirement of Judith Kuehn, now-superintendent of schools Michael Jette and his family traveled here to get a feel for the town because he was interested in the position and they all loved the ocean. They immediately felt welcome.

“My wife, Claudia, and I had been talking about next opportunities in my career,” he told The Hull Times last week, as he completes his third month in the position. “At the time, I [was the superintendent of the Litchfield, N.H., school district], commuting an hour each way to work.”

**LIVING HISTORY**. THe JETTE FAMILY Learning about the Acropolis on AN April vacation TRIP. From left, Claudia, Mike, Mariana, and Catalina Jette. [PHOTO COURTESY OF MICHAEL JETTE]

His daughters Mariana and Catalina – now in seventh and eight grades in the Hull Public Schools – were starting to get involved with athletics and other activities, and he was missing their events while attending activities at his own school, in large part due to the long commute.

Jette, who has 32 years of educational experience, including as former superintendent of the Bedford, N.H., school district, interviewed for the position once it was posted following his family’s trip to Hull – during which they became enamored with this beautiful coastal community – and came out on top last January from among 37 applicants for the position.

‘I enjoy the work’

Fast forward to this year with Jette in his first year as superintendent.

“I enjoy the work and the opportunity to have a wider sphere of influence and to be part of the conversation, including parents, students, teachers, and the entire community,” he said. “My family and I moved to Hull and have been welcomed within the community. We also enjoy being close to the ocean after being so far away from it while living in New Hampshire for so many years. With only a five-minute commute now, I can spend more time with my family and be part of their activities. This quaint little town surrounded by water is also close to Boston but offers a nice, simpler way of life.”

Jette said he was looking for a community with a real focus on learning – a school district that was small enough to offer individualized, creative educational opportunities that are often not available in larger school systems.

“All the vibes were good, so I was delighted when I was offered the position,” he said.

‘We want to be as transparent with the public as possible’

Transparency is important, he said.

“We’re a public entity and want to be as transparent with the public as possible so that they understand how their tax dollars [that are allocated to the schools] are being spent,” he said.

Whether engaging with families at a football game or other HPS events or in the wider community, Jette said he is a firm believer in open communication.

He’s also a supporter of school programs that build on the town’s rich maritime history, such as the boatbuilding cooperative effort between the Hull Lifesaving Museum and the high school. “We need to find more ways to bring this heritage to life,” he said.

During a recent presentation of his entry plan to the school committee, Jette said his initial and ongoing focus will continue to be on “looking, listening, and learning.”

Superintendent also wears a ‘parent hat’

He and his family feel embedded in the community. “While I’m looking at how the schools operate and how to make them better, I am looking at things from a superintendent’s angle as well as wearing the parent hat, which I believe [boosts my] credibility as to what we’re trying to accomplish,” Jette said.

**DOG DAYS.** Oliver Jette finally gets to visit Nantasket Beach on September 16… [PHOTO COURTESY OF MICHAEL JETTE]

Among his ongoing goals is visiting each school a couple of times a week and continuing to meet and talk with staff and other community members “as I get my bearings.”

In the long term, one of his priorities will be redoing the HPS strategic plan, “reprioritizing and giving it a fresh look.”

Along with settling into his new position, he and his family are having “a very nice experience in Hull.”

Consolidation plan going smoothly

While developing the consolidation plan for the school system was an intensive effort, Kuehn and her team did such a good job that all is going smoothly, Jette said.

“There was a plan in place before I arrived, and I haven’t heard a single complaint or concern. With Robert Shaw as the new principal at the high school and Tony Hrivnak moving from the middle school to the high school as assistant principal, there has not been an issue,” he said. “Things are working out very well.”

Jacobs School Principal Kyle Shaw has also played a part in bringing the consolidation plan to reality. The Jacobs School now houses preK through grade 7 and the high school, grades 8 to 12.

A particular challenge is not being able to yet reach a contract agreement with the teaching staff. “We’re working hard to accomplish that,” Jette said. “We’re actively negotiating and trying to get a deal settled. Both parties are trying to reach a fair deal, but there is currently no signed agreement in place.”

His approach is to “keep calm and negotiate on as we try to find a pathway. I think we can overcome this challenge.”

With respect to Question 2 on the November 5 ballot asking voters to decide whether to eliminate passage of the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System exams as a graduation requirement, Jette said, “I’ve always felt that an independent third-party test is a good thing. I’m not opposed to this requirement. It helps keep us grounded in terms of the work we’re doing. Ensuring that students know math, reading, and writing [through these exams] is OK.”

Finding ways to improve school system

What Jette is most looking forward to in his new role is working cooperatively with the school community in finding ways to improve the school system.

With low enrollment numbers a concern, Jette said it’s important “to let the rest of the world know how well we’re doing and communicating to families that the HPS is a [viable] option and that good things are happening here.”

Jette is impressed with HPS students – their good attitude and achievements.

“While walking through the schools, I find kind, compliant students who are engaged in learning and enjoying a safe school environment, another [factor] in helping families decide whether to relocate to Hull,” he said.

Jette also appreciates the sense of pride among Hull residents in their town and in the fact that many families have lived here for generations. “In some cases, there are grandparents and mothers and fathers who have graduated from the high school whose children are now attending,” he noted.

**IN THE SWING.** The Jettes VISITING FAMILY IN THE MOUNTAINS OF COLOMBIA. [Photo courtesy of Michael Jette]

Jette’s parents set a good example for him and his sister when they were growing up, he recalled. “My mother and father were both hard workers. My father never graduated from high school and trained as a machinist at a community college, and he took great pride in his work,” he said. “My mother graduated from high school and attended secretarial school and was proud of [her accomplishments].”

Pathway to a better experience

That said, they instilled in Jette and his sister early on “the need to keep learning – that you can carve out your own path through educational achievement – which they considered to be the pathway to a better experience,” he said.

Jette later decided he wanted to become a teacher, which led to his earning a doctorate in school administration.

“There’s value in all work, and we’re fortunate in what we have available to us,” he said. “Our Founding Fathers [placed great value in education] for democracy to thrive. We need critical thinkers and individuals who can read and write well; that’s how people are kept informed. We want to prepare the next generation to [carry on] with this gift and to keep nurturing it forward.”

Qualities that he feels are essential to a superintendent position include patience and a willingness to listen, while also sharing one’s opinion as part of a team effort.

“We are ultimately public servants of the community, supported by tax dollars, and we have to protect that trust,” Jette said.

Sense of community

The Jettes love the sense of community and belonging they are experiencing in Hull, from his daughters biking to the Village Market to buy a loaf of bread to heading to the bay to watch a beautiful sunset or going for a walk along the beach.

“Time hasn’t caught up with Hull,” Jette said. “We still have an independent grocer and pharmacy, and we love that aspect.”

In their spare time, the Jette family enjoys traveling.

“We decided we had enough ‘stuff’ in our lives and wanted to have more experiences,” he said. “Claudia is from Columbia, and we traveled to South America to visit her family last year. We’ve also traveled together to Europe, including Italy and Greece, with a priority on visiting the Sistine Chapel and viewing Michelangelo’s works. It’s important to experience what’s out there beyond our smaller town.”

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