Barrington gets its third superintendent in a year

What happened

The School Committee appointed Dr. Holly Hageman as superintendent on May 7, 2026 and approved her contract the same evening. She is the third person to lead the district within the year: the high school principal served as acting superintendent in September 2025, Robert Mitchell was appointed interim superintendent that month and started in October, and a search run by the firm Hazard, Young, Attea and Associates for $15,000 produced Dr. Hageman.

Why it matters to families

The superintendent decides budgets, hiring and the direction of every school. Three leaders in one year makes it hard for plans to stick.

The evidence

The May 7, 2026 approved minutes record the chair announcing Dr. Holly Hageman's appointment, a 4-0 vote to appoint her, and a second 4-0 vote to approve her contract. The September 11, 2025 minutes record the 4-0 appointment of Robert Mitchell as interim superintendent and name Christopher Ashley as acting superintendent. The February 5, 2026 minutes record the $15,000 HYA engagement letter approved 5-0. The contracts themselves were not filed with the minutes, so salary and term are not on the public record.

The source