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marbleheadcurrent.org
A4 Wednesday, January 25, 2023 Marblehead Current
MOVING ON UP
Murphy picked to lead Dedham schools BY KRIS OLSON The Dedham School Committee voted unanimously to offer its school superintendent job to Marblehead Assistant Superintendent Nan Murphy at a public meeting Wednesday night, Jan. 18. While members of the Dedham School Committee discussed some of the strengths of each candidate, Murphy was the only one of the five finalists whose name was placed into nomination for the position. Pending the successful resolution of contract negotiations, Murphy would start in her new role on July 1. Murphy is the second top administrator in the Marblehead schools to be offered a promotion in recent weeks.
Earlier this month, Marblehead High School Principal Dan Bauer was offered the job of superintendent of schools in Danvers. Dedham is seeking to replace Superintendent Michael Welch, who retired at the end of 2022. The district’s assistant superintendent of curriculum and assessment, Ian Kelly, has been serving as interim superintendent since the start of the year. At the outset of the meeting, Dedham School Committee Chair Melissa Pearrow explained that, working with a consultant from the New England School Development Council, the district had developed a profile of a successful candidate for the superintendent position, which honed in on four qualities: » effective and forwardthinking educational
skilled operations management. Board member Victor Hebert commented that he had been impressed by how Murphy managed to touch on all of the qualities the board was seeking permeated her answers, which said to him they were “top of mind” and part of her essence. “It’s one thing to give a speech; it’s another thing for these things to be part of you,” he said. Dedham School Committee member Josh Donati said he had been the one charged with doing a reference check with Marblehead Superintendent John Buckey and said he appreciated that he had reinforced his strong recommendation of Murphy by saying, “But it’s OK if you don’t end up hiring her.” When he placed Murphy’s »
On Jan. 18, Dedham School Committee unanimously selected Marblehead Assistant Superintendent Nan Murphy to lead its district.
leadership; » a commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion and justice; » collaborative communication and leadership; and
name into nomination, Hebert added that Murphy had “brought me out, and I wanted to engage with her more, which is a powerful thing to do in an interview.” Board member Cailen McCormick added that Murphy had risen to the top of her list when the feedback from different segments of the school community was so positive and touched on similar strengths. “It feels like the community has a consensus, which is really exciting,” she said. Member Chris Polito drew some unintentional laughs when he attempted to compliment Murphy’s ability to surround herself with good people by comparing her to Patriots coach Bill Belichick. “Tough year to make that comment,” Donati quipped.
Tauro to fill Housing Authority vacancy Interim appointment to expire in June BY WILLIAM J. DOWD Marblehead resident Terri Tauro grew up in public housing, and it is a lived experience that she will now bring to the Marblehead Housing Authority’s Board of Commissioners. “I lived on Barnard Hawkes Court,” she said. “I was there from 3 months old until I was 18.” On Wednesday, the Marblehead Select Board and the Housing Authority’s commissioners unanimously appointed the former 8th Essex District state representative candidate to fill the vacancy created after former commissioner Joan Cutler resigned in September. Tauro said she got acquainted with tenant concerns and issues on the stump before the Democratic primary in September. “I knocked on all of the doors in Marblehead’s public housing,” said Tauro. “I also held ice cream socials at all of Marblehead’s senior housing.” She said public housing — which she made a centerpiece
CURRENT PHOTO / WILLIAM J. DOWD
Marblehead officials appointed Terri Tauro to Housing Authority board.
in her campaign’s platform — is a good fit for her. She wants to help cultivate better communication between the board and tenants. “I would like to build a bridge,” she said. “The housing authority could use some fresh
blood.” She looks forward to her service to the housing authority. She said she would be listening out of the gate. “You have to get the lay of the land a little bit,” she said. “You never go in gangbusters when
you don’t know exactly what’s happening, what’s going on.” Tauro works in the Marblehead Harbormaster’s Office. She is the Marblehead Municipal Employees Union president. Tauro’s interim appointment
ends in June. She will need to run for the remaining years of Cutler’s term in the next municipal election, and she intends on pulling the necessary nomination papers when Town Clerk Robin Michaud makes them available in March.
Former resident charged with murdering wife BY LEIGH BLANDER Brian Walshe, who lived with his wife, Ana, and their children in Marblehead recently, has been charged with her murder. Ana Walshe was last seen in her Cohasset home on New Year’s Day. The case has rivoted the region and the nation. Walshe was arraigned on a murder charge on Jan. 18. He is being held without bail. The Walshes lived in Marblehead a couple of years ago. Their neighbor Judith Doane is heartbroken by the case. “I’m beside myself. It’s a very scary situation,” said Doane, who sold the home at 6 Edgewood Road to Ana Walshe in 2018 and lived nearby. Walshe and her family moved to Cohasset in 2020. “It’s all creepy,” Doane told
the Marblehead Current. “My concern is for the boys.” The Walshes have three young sons. Doane remembers Ana as always looking her best. “She is absolutely beautiful, always decked out,” Doane said. “I never saw her in sweatpants or a sweatshirt.” Doane kept in touch with Ana Walshe after she moved away. “We were going to visit them this year.” She last heard from Ana the day after Christmas. “In her last text, she said that we were the best neighbors she ever had. She sent us a video of the boys with the Christmas presents we sent to them.” Doane remembers Brian Walshe playing with his sons outside their Edgewood Road home. “He was outside with the kids all the time,” she said.
Police say Ana Walshe’s husband killed her.
COURTESY PHOTO / COHASSET POLICE