BMR schools tab new assistant superintendent

Matthew Ehrenworth earns 3-year contract

BLACKSTONE — The Blackstone-Millville Regional School Committee Thursday awarded a three-year employment contract to Matthew Ehrenworth, a 21-year educator who is taking on a new role as the regional school district’s new assistant school superintendent and business manager.

The assistant superintendent’s position had been vacant since the resignation of David L. Thomson, who left two years ago to take a job as school superintendent for the Norwood Public School District.

Ehrenworth of Rutland, Mass., was one of three finalists chosen by a search panel made up of administrators, school board members and union representatives. A total 22 applicants applied for the position, which has been modified to include the role of business manager. The position of business manager was held formerly by Wen Cobb.

“We’re reorganizing the role of the business manager and assistant superintendent so it has a very heavy focus on finance and operations,” said newly-hired School Superintendent Jason DeFalco, who is embarking on his first school year with the district. “We wanted the assistant superintendent to not only fulfill the needs and responsibilities of the business manager role, but also to be able to link every dollar and every resource to the strategic plan. What we were looking for was a business manager with the lens of an educator and who understands the work of the back office.”

DeFalco says Ehrenworth fits the bill because of his educational background as a high school teacher, dean of students, principal, assistant principal, and director of facilities and finance.

Ehrenworth was director of business and operations at the Christa McAuliffe Charter School in Framingham. Before that he held principal jobs at the Coakley Middle School in Norwood and Leicester Middle School in Leicester. Ehrenworth started out in education as a high school biology, earth sciences and chemistry teacher.

A graduate graduate of Boston University, he earned a master’s degree in administration and supervision from Touro College in New York.

He also served as a Rutland representative on the Wachusett Regional School District Committee.

Ehrenworth replaces Thomson, who was the district’s first assistant superintendent in years. Before arriving in Blackstone, Thomson was principal at Raynham Middle School since 2007. Before that, he was principal of the Qualters Middle School in Mansfield, and Duxbury Middle School in Duxbury. He also taught in Duxbury, Foxboro and Worcester.

DeFalco was hired by the district in May. A resident of Portsmouth, he was the deputy superintendent of the New Bedford Public School System. He comes to Blackstone-Millville with over 17 years of experience in public education.

Prior to arriving in New Bedford, DeFalco was a middle school principal in both Somerville and Worcester, Mass.

DeFalco earned a doctorate of education from Johnson and Wales University in school leadership and administration, and also holds a master’s degree in school leadership and administration from Worcester State College.

DeFalco succeeds School Supt. Allen W. Himmelberger, the Blackstone-Millville Regional School District’s school chief for the past four years, who is is retiring effective Sept. 1, 2018.