GRANBY — The School Committee has selected interim Superintendent Mary Jane Rickson to take over the role on a permanent basis based on her extensive experience and focus on providing the best environment and education of students.

“What drives me everyday is the students,” Rickson said during her interview on April 7. “Every decision I make, whether it’s facilities, curriculum, staffing, budgeting, I say, ‘How is this going to impact the students.’ I’d like to continue working with that as a vision.”

The committee spoke highly of Rickson’s interview answers, particularly involving her curriculum process, her acknowledgement of past mistakes and areas for improvement and her ability to tie every action back to building a place for students, which “is why we’re all here,” School Committee Member Liz Lafond said.

“Being an interim is like a yearlong job interview, so it can be a double edge sword because you’re looking to evaluate and compare them to someone that comes in fresh for the district,” Lafond said.

Rickson was one of two candidates for the position, the other being Joanne Menard, assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction at Holliston Public Schools. While the committee felt Menard was experienced and well-prepared, many of her answers did not tie back to the students, members said.

Rickson also provided examples of her collaborative approach to education. She described the district’s central office as “service providers” that support the administration and students in each building. When assessing the curriculum’s efficacy, Rickson said she builds teams and committees to analyze data, develop curriculum maps and pilot new curriculums. She views the town as a vital part of student support, and currently works with Granby’s Cultural Council to bring more awards and funding to the public schools.

“I find that the superintendent should be an ambassador of education,” Rickson said. “My job is to advocate for our students, but I cannot do that unless I become part of the community.”

School Committee member Michael Durham appreciates how Rickson analyzes the “return on investment” for every decision involving students. Her “heart-based leadership” serves her well in the district, he said. Additionally, anonymous comments from staff at East Meadow School and the district leadership team praised Rickson’s ideas, strategic plan and transparency.

“The staff is so dedicated and they wear so many hats,” Rickson said. “The individual instruction the students get, the mentoring they do and the communication they have with them well after they graduate, I find is incredibly rare.”

In a time of severe social, academic and financial pressures for students, Rickson values a “whole student” approach. Not only does she provide the social and emotional supports for students, she said, but students themselves are key pieces in these conversations.

The School Committee will now move into contract negotiations with Rickson.

Emilee Klein can be reached at eklein@gazettenet.com.