Auburn school committee interviews Dr. Renee McCall, finalist for superintendent

Dr. Renee McCall, a 20‑plus‑year educator and the current executive director in Montgomery County Public Schools (Maryland), gave the Auburn School Committee an hour‑plus interview on Dec. 11 as the second of three finalists for superintendent of Auburn Public Schools.

McCall opened by saying the highlight of her day had been meeting students, and she framed her work around four core values: equity, excellence, student agency and teamwork. "The highlight of my day, however, was meeting with all of the students," she said, and later described her management style as collaborative. "I would say my management style is more of a collaborator and facilitator of conversation," McCall told the committee, adding she seeks to create channels—such as a superintendent student advisory group—for students and staff to share classroom‑level insights.

Why it matters: The committee is choosing a superintendent who will set district priorities, present budgets to the town, and negotiate with unions. McCall repeatedly tied her approach to relationship building, data‑driven decisions and protecting classroom instruction when budgets tighten.

Budget and staffing: Asked how budget choices should reflect district goals, McCall said "your budget is a value statement," and described using a 0‑based budgeting approach to ensure dollars align with the strategic plan. If revenues fell, she said she would "try to steer away from the classroom," prioritizing student‑facing staff and looking instead for noninstructional line items to cut. She also referenced facilities condition indices (FCI) as a tool to anticipate maintenance costs and limit audit variances.

Labor relations and contracts: On labor and negotiations, McCall advocated a proactive model that builds trust with union leadership. She described chairing a biweekly work group in her current district that includes chiefs and union presidents to surface issues early and work toward student‑centered solutions.

Student well‑being and policy priorities: McCall identified student mental health and the district's cell‑phone policy as emerging issues that require broader community input. "Cell phones are a tool," she said, noting both instructional uses and social‑media harms and urging wider family and student engagement before policy changes.

Operational example and communications: To illustrate operational leadership, McCall described a large re‑fingerprinting and continuous monitoring effort in her district after an Office of the Inspector General review, coordinating logistics for roughly 211 schools and tens of thousands of employees while communicating weekly progress to rebuild trust. On media, she said she would rely on a public information officer, cultivate relationships with local reporters, and use social media to highlight district achievements and counter misinformation.

Vision for Auburn: For a new five‑year strategic plan, McCall emphasized flexible high‑school scheduling and stronger partnerships to expand internships and apprenticeships so students can pursue multiple post‑graduation paths. She told the committee that Auburn's size makes it an attractive fit for a first‑year superintendent who wants to be visible in schools and closely know staff and students.

Outcome and next steps: The committee did not vote on hiring during the special meeting. After closing remarks from the candidate, Chair Jessie Harrington called for a motion to adjourn; Samantha Rayfield moved, Brooke Ryan seconded and the committee voted to adjourn.

Reporting note: Quotes and attributions come from the committee's public interview on Dec. 11, 2025. The committee will continue its search process; no appointment or formal decision was announced at the session.