Frank Tiano, one of three remaining finalists for the job of Nauset School Superintendent after the withdrawal of Sara Ahern last week, has also withdrawn his candidacy, leaving just two people in the running, Brooke Clenchy and Andrea Schwamb.
A source connected with the search said Tiano had dropped out on Friday, Jan. 21 for personal reasons.
In the past year, Tiano has been a finalist for superintendent jobs in North Attleboro, Duxbury, Amesbury, and Saugus in addition to the Nauset district.
In an interview in Saugus, he stressed that effective communication was his most important job.
Tiano did not respond to the Independent’s multiple interview requests prior to his withdrawal.
He is currently the interim principal of Dover-Sherborn Middle School. He served as superintendent in Uxbridge from 2018 to 2021 and was assistant superintendent of the Framingham Public Schools from 2015 to 2018. From 2010 to 2015 he was superintendent of the Chelmsford Public Schools, where he had 10 years of experience as an elementary and middle school principal.
In 2014, the U.S. Dept. of Education recognized him as one of 100 superintendents successfully transitioning his district to digital learning. That year, the Chelmsford School Committee lauded his performance and voted to give him a performance bonus. The next year, however, Tiano resigned amid controversies about finances and transparency.
In 2015 an eight-year-old student reported that a Chelmsford teacher’s aide had inappropriately touched him. Charges of indecent assault were later dropped when prosecutors learned the employee was receiving hospice care for a terminal illness. But in the 12 days between the time Tiano placed the employee on administrative leave and his release of a public statement to parents, the Lowell Sun received leaked information and reported the incident.
Tiano said the developing investigation prevented him from being able to discuss the situation with parents. Chelmsford Police Chief James Spinney applauded the cooperation of Tiano and the administration.
“As a parent, you can never understand what we do on a day-to-day basis and what we know,” Tiano said.
That same school year, Chelmsford racked up a $500,000 budget deficit, which led to laying off three district administrators. Two of the three later won arbitration suits against the district, according to the Lowell Sun.
“I had a 15-year career in Chelmsford that was mostly stellar,” said Tiano. “But when you Google me, you get a nice four-month snippet.”
