Former Superintendent Anthony Pope a Finalist in Wareham Search

Former Marlborough Supterintendent Anthony Pope is in the running for another superintendent position in Massachusetts.

Pope is one of three finalists in the Wareham School District's search for a superintendent. The other two finalists are Kimberly Shaver-Hood, who serves as the superintendent of the Blackstone-Millville Regional School District in Blackstone and Elise Frangos, who currently is the assistant superintendent of curriculum for the Old Rochester Regional School District, in Mattapoisett.

Former Superintendent Anthony Pope resigned in July. His resignation followed months of controversy and cost the district $99,000.

Pope's decision to first suspend and later fire Marlborough High School Assistant Principal Adam Bakr angered many students. Student efforts to have him returned to the school were successful. Pope's reaction to the student protests led to a host of complaints against him for unprofessional behavior and resulted in an allegation of assault from a faculty member.

Marlborough's teachers also took a vote of no confidence against Pope. The Marlborough Educators Association also claimed intimidation by him. At one committee meeting, teachers and parents lobbied the committee to fire Pope in order to get the district back on track.

The committee voted to have Steven Dlott serve as an interim superintendent for the school year. His efforts have been publically praised by the committee.