Carpenter Withdraws Candidacy for Harvard Superintendent

Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School Superintendent/Principal Scott Carpenter confirmed a report that he is no longer a candidate for the vacant Harvard Public Schools superintendent post.

The Harvard Press reported he notified the Harvard school committee on Sunday that he was withdrawing his name.

According to the report, Carpenter's email stated: “Unfortunately, after reflection over the past days, your search process and timeline have become less than desirable, and I would now not leave my present position for Harvard. I will be withdrawing from your search to focus my energy elsewhere.”

Carpenter had been the lone finalist left when Jessica Huizinga of Freetown-Lakeville withdrew her application for “personal reasons.”

Carpenter advised the L-S school committee members during a meeting earlier this month that he had been named one of three finalists for Harvard's superintendent position.

“I have spent two decades in high schools, and the opportunity to go to a grade K to 12 setting would involve growth,” Carpenter said at the time.

He said that the decision to apply for another job does not diminish his deep commitment to Lincoln-Sudbury.  

“I love Lincoln-Sudbury. It’s something I feel very at home with,” Carpenter said, describing a moment of hesitation before he hit the send button to email his application for the Harvard position. “It is sometimes a conflict between growth and where your heart is.”

When reached at his office on Wednesday, he declined further comment.