ATHOL — The Easthampton School Committee kicked off a series of interviews Tuesday night among finalists for its permanent superintendent post. Cynthia Kennedy, currently assistant superintendent of the Athol-Royalston Regional School District, was the first to be interviewed, giving a passionate and emotional testimony as to why she sees Easthampton as her future professional home.

For their final interviews, the three finalists are asked to conduct site visits at Easthampton High School and the Mountain View School, followed by a seven-question public interview and meet and greet. Interviews concluded on Thursday night, after which a final decision can be expected as early as next week.

During her interview, Kennedy said that, while she loves her current position, she is ready to grow and take on a position with more hands-on connection. She stated that she has been watching Easthampton and waiting for the superintendent position to open up, because the community’s character and close-knit nature struck her as special.

“Easthampton specifically appeals to me because of the strong and vibrant arts community,” she said, noting that the students she talked to during her site visits emphasized the importance of creative expression and extracurriculars in their education.

The School Committee asked Kennedy a series of seven questions on a variety of topics including potential improvements within the district, removing barriers for students, approaches to conflict and budgeting, and tackling the ever-evolving question of technology in the classroom.

Kennedy responded to questions thoroughly, bringing in experiences from her current position and possible approaches to different initiatives on the elementary, middle and high school levels.

Across grade levels, Kennedy emphasized the importance of equity and inclusion in the classroom and beyond, removing barriers to success that are present for some students and not others. In particular, Kennedy hopes to look at ways to give students with disabilities or sensory sensitivities the attention they need without removing them from classroom or extracurricular settings, such as having parallel sensory areas in classrooms, or available nearby at school dances.

She also noted successful programs she helped pioneer in her current district that have helped bridge “achievement gaps” and prepare students for higher education or professional endeavors. The first was an early college program, through which high school students could take classes for college credit at local community colleges for free, giving them a head start on their college careers. Another program offers students professional pathways through community partnerships.

Additionally, Kennedy emphasized the importance of “culturally responsive teaching,” and ensuring that students not only feel seen but that they are exposed to a diversity of perspectives.

“As your superintendent, I will ask the community to be open to having courageous conversations,” Kennedy said. “I would say you don’t have to agree to everything, and you don’t even have to agree with anything. Just come to the table, because that’s the first step.” The committee also brought up their concerns about AI both inside and outside of a classroom setting, and how the district can acknowledge that new technologies are a prevalent facet of modern life while also encouraging critical thinking.

Kennedy noted that she has familiarized herself with a number of learning technologies, and even uses AI regularly in her day-to-day duties.

“I’m always for being more conservative to protect kids, and then maybe we can move in the direction that we figure out that we want to go in,” Kennedy said regarding AI. “But really, I think as educators, we’re going to need to be proactive in providing our families and our staff as much information as we can.”

Kennedy said she believes that there are constructive ways to use AI and other technologies as powerful learning tools, and that the district will have to proactively learn about the evolving technological world as the district is “preparing students for jobs that haven’t been even, never mind invented yet, but even conceived of yet.”

She expressed that there are ways AI can be used effectively for learning, while keeping in mind its limitations, which create a need for critical thinking skills even when it seems that technology makes all of the answers easily available.

“That critical thinking part is important, because you still have to be an arbiter of the information that’s being spit out,” she said.

Kennedy’s passion for Easthampton and quality education moved her and several committee members near to tears, and School Committee Chair Laura Scott commended Kennedy for being “professional” and “competent” throughout the interview process.

Scott told Kennedy said that she should be “incredibly proud” of her responses, and that the committee is “flattered” that she hopes to lead the district.