New Northampton superintendent vows transparency and community engagement
Azarloza, who took office July 1, plans to launch multiple advisory councils and use zero-based budgeting starting in October.
NORTHAMPTON — New Superintendent Annie Azarloza said she chose the Northampton school district specifically because of its engaged community, rejecting the notion that high civic participation is a warning sign. She plans to lean into that engagement through multiple advisory councils and regular forums.
Azarloza, who began her tenure on July 1, told The Reminder that she intends to work collaboratively with staff, families, and students to shape district priorities. She emphasized transparency and data-driven decision-making, particularly in budgeting, as she enters a district preparing for an override vote in fiscal year 2028.
The School Committee selected Azarloza in a 6-3-1 vote during an April 30 special meeting. She comes to Northampton from a superintendency in Rochester, New Hampshire, which sparked debate among committee members because the city of Rochester filed a breach-of-contract complaint against her in Strafford County Superior Court following her departure. A report commissioned by the Rochester School District and released in April cleared Azarloza of the allegations. Majority committee members who voted for her said the report's findings made them comfortable with her appointment.
Azarloza grew up in Los Angeles with Cuban parents and was an English language learner as a child. She earned a master's degree in education from American Intercontinental University and is pursuing a doctorate in education leadership with a focus on health and wellness from American College of Education. She began teaching in Florida in 2005 and moved to Massachusetts with her daughter in 2006, working in various teaching and administrative roles across Massachusetts and New Hampshire over 15 years.
She said she plans to build trust by walking the talk in her leadership approach. "First, I've got to walk the talk. I did a lot of talking in that interview, but now I've got to walk the talk," she said. She committed to monthly individual meetings with School Committee members using the same agenda with each, and said she would present an entry plan outlining her leadership approach to the committee in August, with findings by December.
Azarloza intends to create multiple channels for input, including a family and community engagement roundtable, an Educator Advisory Council made up of staff across the district, a Superintendent Student Advisory Council with high school students, and monthly public forums. She said she wants teachers, custodians, students, and families to identify needs that will inform the budget process.
For budgeting, she plans to begin the process earlier, in October, using a zero-based and data-driven approach. She explained that the district will scrutinize how funds are used and evaluate their impact. "These are our values, we do everything student-centric and built on equity," she said, describing how the district will ask what data justifies spending and what impact the money will have.
Beyond the budget, Azarloza said her main focuses will be transparency, special education, supporting school staff, and establishing a cell phone policy to address screen time's effects on students. She described herself as a highly visible superintendent who plans to be present in schools and at community events. "They will feel my presence, they will see me often in schools, they will see me at community events," she said.