Gloucester schools will be looking for a new leader in the coming year as Superintendent Ben Lummis announced Wednesday his sixth year in the district will be his last.
“It is an honor and privilege to serve our schools and the great city of Gloucester,” Lummis said in a letter to School Committee Chair Kathy Clancy. “And, after much thought and personal reflection with my family, I have decided that the 2025-2026 school year, my sixth year as superintendent of the Gloucester Public Schools, will be my last as a superintendent.”
“Despite many challenges, I’m incredibly proud of the significant accomplishments we’ve achieved together — staff, school and district leaders, and the School Committee. To start, we navigated the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic by providing more in-school instruction than almost all other districts in the Commonwealth,” Lummis wrote.
“While I’m truly sorry to hear that Ben will be retiring as our superintendent at the end of this school year, I’m also very happy that he’ll have more time to enjoy his family and pursue other interests,” Clancy said.
“Ben has accomplished so much during his tenure so far. The role of superintendent is immense, and his professional expertise, personal dedication, and tireless work ethic have brought meaningful progress and lasting impact to our district,” Clancy said.
Lummis helped oversee the construction of East Veterans Elementary School on Webster Street, and the combining of the kindergarten through fifth-grade student bodies, teachers, and staffs of the former East Gloucester and Veterans Memorial elementary schools at the new modern school.
The project came in on time and under budget, replacing two school buildings that were both more than 60 years old, Lummis said.
Strike, budget challenges
There have been challenges.
In November, the district faced a 15-day teachers and paraprofessionals strike over protracted and stalled negotiations with paraprofessionals who were seeking a living wage and increased professional development, and a call for paid parental leave for educators.
In 2024, the schools weathered a tight budget season when a more than $2 million budget gap could not be closed, leading to the reduction of 28 staff across the district.
“On behalf of the more than 400 educators who make up the Union of Gloucester Educators, we wish Superintendent Lummis the best in all of his future endeavors,” the Union of Gloucester Educations said in a prepared statement provided by co-President Rachel Rex.
“At this pivotal juncture for our schools and city, Gloucester’s educators can reflect on the struggle of the last several years, the collective power that we have built, and the immense change that we have fought for on behalf of the students we love.”
She said they need to guarantee the search for the schools’ next leader is conducted with transparency and leans on the voices of all stakeholders.
Lummis earned “stellar” marks in his most recent evaluation by the School Committee, which approved a roughly 5% increase to his salary, bumping it to $213,725.
“I want to thank Ben for his unwavering dedication to Gloucester’s students, teachers, staff, and families,” said Mayor Greg Verga, who as mayor also serves on the School Committee.
“During his time here he has led our schools through major challenges, including the COVID-19 pandemic, and celebrated major accomplishments, such as the opening of the new East Veterans Elementary School. I am grateful for his leadership and his commitment to the belief that ‘every day matters, everybody belongs, and every student learns.’”
“Superintendent Lummis has given our families the best of him,” long-time School Committee member Melissa Teixeira Prince said. “I respect his decision to retire, putting family first. We are so fortunate to work with him and the leadership team he has built to guide us through some storms knowing the focus is always doing what is best for kids — creating opportunities for all learners — with the goal of improving academic achievement.”
“We are grateful to Superintendent Lummis for his dedication over the past five years to the challenging and complex work of strengthening the Gloucester Public Schools,” said Emily Siegel, executive director of the Gloucester Education Foundation.
Future plans
Lummis said he was letting the School Committee know of his plans to retire now so it could decide on and follow a process to identify the right leader for the schools. He said he would do all he could to help with the transition of a new superintendent.
While there are many paths ahead for him professionally, he said he would always look at his time as the Gloucester superintendent as one of the high points of his professional career.
Lummis was hired in 2020 to take over for Richard Safier, who had held the role since 2010.
Lummis was the interim superintendent for Brookline public schools at the time.
“This has been the most rewarding, challenging, and fulfilling job of my life,” he said. “There is no second place.”
Ethan Forman may be contacted at 978-675-2714, or at eforman@northofboston.com.