Stoughton committee votes 5-0 to appoint Juliet Miller as superintendent pending contract negotiations

The Stoughton School Committee voted 5-0 on March 4 to appoint Juliet Miller as superintendent of Stoughton Public Schools, pending successful contract negotiations and finalization of terms.

The vote follows Superintendent Dr. Joseph Baeta’s January 28 notice that he intends to retire at the end of his contract on June 30, 2026, and a working-group process that recommended an internal candidate. The committee established a superintendent succession working group on Feb. 11 and invited Miller, the current Stoughton High School principal, for an interview on Feb. 25.

Committee members praised Miller’s experience leading the high school and her familiarity with the community. Armando, a school committee member, said the interview “was a good interview process overall” and added, “I thought she did a a very good job in answering them, to my satisfaction at this point.” Lindsay Krekler, a member of the succession working group who moved the appointment motion, said she was “very excited about her candidacy” and later agreed to serve as the committee’s point person in contract negotiations.

Chris Shannon, the other member of the succession working group, highlighted Miller’s communication skills and crisis leadership: “There is tremendous evidence, in her resume and knowing her, … that she is an excellent communicator.” Shannon also identified growth areas the committee expects Miller to address during a planned transition year, including scaling up budget management, data use to set concrete targets, and increased engagement with local leaders.

Shannon additionally raised concerns surfaced by parents about district culture, saying, “I have heard, from parents that we have had staff of color at the high school who did not feel supported by other staff, were made uncomfortable, and made to leave.” Committee members said mentoring and an extended entry plan during the 2025–26 school year are intended to help Miller build on her strengths and address those issues.

The motion to appoint Miller — phrased as an appointment “pending successful contract negotiations” with a July 1, 2026 start date — was moved by Lindsay Krekler and seconded by Armando. The committee carried the motion by voice and recorded the outcome as 5-0.

After the vote the committee paused the public portion of the meeting so the chair could call Miller; the chair later announced Miller had accepted the appointment pending contract negotiations. The committee then placed negotiations and final parameter-setting into executive session; the motion to enter executive session and adjourn without returning to open session carried 5-0.

The committee noted next steps and upcoming meetings: a regular school committee meeting on March 11 to include updates on the building project and a joint meeting with the Finance Committee on March 12. Committee members said they plan an onboarding entry plan, mentorship from the current superintendent and targeted opportunities during the 2025–26 year to prepare Miller for district-level responsibilities.

Votes at a glance

- Motion: “Pending successful contract negotiations, the school committee appoint Juliet Miller to be the superintendent of schools starting 07/01/2026.” Mover: Lindsay Krekler. Second: Armando. Outcome: approved, recorded 5-0. - Motion: Move into executive session to negotiate contract parameters and adjourn from executive session without returning to open session. Mover: Lindsay Krekler. Second: Chris Shannon. Outcome: approved, recorded 5-0.

Context: The committee formed a working group after Dr. Joseph Baeta notified the committee on Jan. 28 of his plan to retire at the end of his contract (June 30, 2026). The working group (Lindsay Krekler and Chris Shannon) developed criteria, evaluated Miller — an internal candidate recommended by Dr. Baeta — and reported back to the full committee. Members stressed that the early appointment creates time for a transition year of mentoring and “on-the-job” development focused on budget skills, data-driven targets, community and town collaboration, and building culture districtwide.