Published in the April 17, 2018 edition.

WAKEFIELD — Before today ends, we should know who the next superintendent of the Wakefield Public Schools will be.

The School Committee is expected to deliberate and vote in open session at a special meeting tonight. Last Tuesday, the School Committee interviewed the three finalists in successive one-hour sessions.

The finalists are: Douglas Lyons, the current Wakefield assistant superintendent; Dr. Susan Kustka, assistant superintendent in the Weymouth School System, and Jared Fulgoni assistant superintendent for Haverhill Public Schools.

Lyons has been the assistant Wakefield superintendent since 2015. He was formerly principal of the Parker Middle School in Reading. He earned his bachelor of science degree in Marine Engineering from Mass. Maritime Academy and his master’s in Education Leadership at Simmons College. At the time he was hired as assistant superintendent here he was enrolled in the doctor of Education program at Northeastern University.

Before becoming assistant superintendent in Weymouth, Kustka was the K-8 Director of Teaching & Learning in Hanover. She has a doctor of Education degree in Curriculum and Leadership from Northeastern, a master’s in Moderate Special Needs from Boston College and a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from UMass Boston.

Jared Fulgoni was Haverhill’s director of Strategy and Accountability before he was named assistant superintendent of schools. According to a resume found on-line, he has an Advance Graduate Study Certificate from the University of New Hampshire, a master’s in Education from Plymouth State University and a bachelor of arts from Keene State.

Current Wakefield Superintendent Dr. Kim Smith has announced that she will retire effective June 30.

When he announced the three finalists to succeed her, screening committee Chairman Tom Markham said that the reputation of the Wakefield Public Schools drew a high level of interest in the superintendent position. The 28 applicants was a much higher number than are typically seen for this type of position, he said, adding that it “speaks well of our school system.”

He said that the Search Committee culled the number down to 10 and then six of those were invited in for interviews. After further deliberations, the Search Committee chose the three finalists.