Kimo Carter to take the helm in Holliston

For James “Kimo” Carter, Weston’s assistant superintendent of teaching and learning, his position with Weston Public Schools has been about harnessing teamwork at each level of the community to better serve students.

It’s a philosophy that he is taking with him to his next role, as Carter, 58, will leave his post at the end of the school year to take the superintendent position at Holliston Public Schools. When he leaves the Case House, he will cap off an eight-year stint with the district that saw Weston’s schools weather the pandemic, maintain their high standards and expand their offerings for every student.

A prime example of these offerings came to Carter’s mind as he sat down for an interview. He had just come from a seventh grade engineering arts course, which had students that day participating in a concrete-mixing class.

“That’s something you don’t see in every district,” he said with a laugh.

Superintendent Karen Zaleski said the district is crafting plans for its hiring process. The superintendent of teaching and learning provides direction for curriculum and instruction, including oversight, professional development, data analysis, grant management and evaluations, as well as support and guidance for school administrators.

“This really is a testament to your leadership, your hard work, your dedication to staff and students throughout your career … We are very proud of you and appreciate you,” Zaleski said to Carter at the Feb. 9 School Committee meeting. “We’ll keep folks updated in terms of the timeline on that transition.”

During his time in Weston, Carter said the key to ensuring the district remains a “source of community pride” is the team-first mindset.

“One of the things that I’ve learned from Weston is how a strong learning community can really make a difference for students,” Carter said. “It takes administrators, it takes teachers, it takes families and, especially, it takes students. We’re one learning community, and we’re a vibrant, really exceptional learning community in Weston, and that’s probably one of the biggest things that I will be missing.”

Cultivating a collaborative atmosphere will be a main priority in Holliston, a town of approximately 15,000 that Carter said is similar to Weston.

“There’s that saying, ‘Culture eats strategy for breakfast,’ and one thing that I know is when you have a culture like Weston’s culture, we can get things done,” Carter said. “They have a high level of support, just like we have here in Weston, and so I think that’s something that drew me. I wanted to go to a district that had potential to really become a good district, and I think Holliston’s one of those districts.”

Describing his current role as a “plum job” that is sure to attract strong candidates, Carter said his departure is a chance for the district to bring in someone with a different view.

“I’m going to sprint to the finish from now until the end of the year. I really am invested in making sure that the transition is a good one,” Carter said. “Whenever there’s a new leader that comes in, it’s an opportunity for the district, and I think we need to see that as that … you get a new set of eyes, you get a new voice and you get a new perspective on where the district can go.”