Leigh Blander

Leigh Blander is an experienced TV, radio and print journalist who has written hundreds of stories for local newspapers, including the Marblehead Reporter. She also works as a PR specialist.
School Committee interviews finalists for interim super, decision may come Thursday
Education, Local News, Marblehead Public Schools, Top Stories

School Committee interviews finalists for interim super, decision may come Thursday

The School Committee may decide this Thursday on the district's next interim superintendent, after interviewing two finalists Monday evening. Although it was a public meeting, parents, teachers and community members in attendance were not permitted to ask questions. School Committee Chair Sarah Fox said the same rules were in effect in 2019 during the last interim superintendent interviews. Theresa McGuinness answers questions from the School Committee CURRENT PHOTO / LEIGH BLANDER Candidate Theresa McGuinness, former principal at the Village School, said if hired she would like to eventually become the permanent superintendent. The other candidate, Jannell Pearson-Campbell, has worked 23 years in education, most recently as interim superintendent in Northampton. She did not men...
School Committee members, acting super say they can’t find deleted texts
Local News, Marblehead Public Schools, Top Stories

School Committee members, acting super say they can’t find deleted texts

Three School Committee members and acting Superintendent Michelle Cresta — who deleted text messages from the weeks when they were discussing the fate of former superintendent John Buckey — say they can not retrieve the texts, after being ordered by the Secretary of the Commonwealth’s office to try. “Ms. Cresta, Ms. Fox and Ms. Taylor confirmed that they followed up with their cell phone carrier and the text messages could not be retrieved,” wrote Lisa Dimier, the district’s public records officer, referring to School Committee Chair Sarah Fox and member Alison Taylor. Top left,clockwise: Acting superintendent Michelle Cresta, School Committee Chair Sarah Fox, member Alison Taylor, member Jenn Schaeffner Dimier included information from School Committee member Jenn Schaeffner. “...
Accident sends juvenile on bike to hospital
Local News, Public safety, Top Stories

Accident sends juvenile on bike to hospital

A juvenile riding a bicycle was rushed to the hospital this morning after an accident involving a car at the corner of West Shore Drive and Shorewood Road. The juvenile was not wearing a helmet. The car was turning from West Shore onto Shorewood at 7:45 a.m. when it collided with the cyclist. Police Chief Dennis King tells the Current that the juvenile’s injuries were minor. The driver is not being cited. King said he remembers another car/bicycle accident on West Shore within the last year. It is a very busy area during school drop-off hours. “Since I’ve been here we’ve done a lot of selective enforcement for speeding,” King said. “There is a speed feedback sign by the Tower School and by the cemetery [on West Shore Drive].” King pointed out speeding was not a factor in this mor...
Today: School Committee holds public interviews with interim super candidates, vote possible
Education, Local News, Marblehead Public Schools, Top Stories

Today: School Committee holds public interviews with interim super candidates, vote possible

The School Committee meets today, Oct. 2, at 5 p.m., for public interviews with two finalists for the district’s interim superintendent position. Details of the meeting and how people can join in person or on Zoom are HERE. One of the candidates is a familiar face: Theresa McGuinness, who was the Village School principal from 2012 to 2016. The other candidate is Jannell D. Pearson-Campbell, who recently completed an interim superintendent job in western Massachusetts. The two finalists for Marblehead’s interim superintendent job — Jannell D. Pearson-Campbell, left, and Theresa McGuinness — were set for public interviews on Monday, Oct. 2.  COURTESY PHOTOS McGuinness was a finalist when Marblehead hired a permanent superintendent in 2020. That job ultimately went to John Buckey...
‘Ave atque vale’: Former MHS Latin teacher dies after battle with ALS
Education, Local News, Marblehead Public Schools, Uncategorized

‘Ave atque vale’: Former MHS Latin teacher dies after battle with ALS

Jennifer Chavez, who taught Latin at Marblehead High School for years, has passed away after a battle with ALS, or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Friends and former colleagues at MHS posted about her death on social media with the Latin phrase, “Ave atque vale,” which means “I salute you and goodbye.” The saying was used in eulogies to Roman heroes. “Jennifer was our rock,” Spanish teacher Candice Sliney told the Current. “Her kind and compassionate personality combined with her wit made her an absolute joy to be around. She was always teaching us, we turned to her for so much support.” Former MHS Latin teacher Jennifer Chavez, center, is surrounded by friends and teachers, left to right, Andrea West, Candice Sliney, Mary Francois, Elmer Magaña, Holly Grose and Laura Alvarez last Oc...
Affordable housing, a new school or something else? What’s next for the Coffin School?
Community resources, Local News, Marblehead Public Schools, Municipal Matters, Top Stories

Affordable housing, a new school or something else? What’s next for the Coffin School?

Town and school leaders are debating the fate of the Coffin School property on Turner Road. Built in 1948, Coffin closed in October 2021, and neighborhood students moved to the new Brown School on Baldwin Road. Initial discussions were that Coffin would be sold to a developer to create affordable housing.  The Coffin School was built in 1948 with an annex added in 1962. CURRENT PHOTO / LEIGH BLANDER It is the School Committee’s authority to determine if the Coffin property no longer has any educational use and should be handed over to the town. Until that happens, the town cannot move forward with plans to sell it. In recent meetings, School Committee Chair Sarah Fox spoke about demolishing the school and possibly holding onto the property. “Whether we sell it for afforda...
Two finalists for interim superintendent announced
Education, Local News, Marblehead Public Schools, Top Stories

Two finalists for interim superintendent announced

A familiar face is one two finalists for the interim superintendent position, the screening committee announced Thursday. Theresa McGuinness, former Village School principal, is one of two finalists for the interim superintendent position. COURTESY PHOTO “The Interim Superintendent Screening Committee, after reviewing several applications and performing interviews, has selected Dr. Theresa McGuinness and Dr. Jannell D. Pearson-Campbell as finalists to present to the Marblehead School Committee,” School Committee Chair Sarah Fox wrote in a press release Thursday morning. McGuinness served as the Village School principal from 2012 to 2016 and was a finalist the last time Marblehead hired a permanent superintendent. The job ultimately went to John Buckey. The School Committee came ...
CURRENT EVENTS: Marblehead’s best bets Sept. 27-Oct. 4
Art, Community resources, Culture, Entertainment, Local History, Local News, Nonprofit corner, Religion, Top Stories

CURRENT EVENTS: Marblehead’s best bets Sept. 27-Oct. 4

Current Events spotlights exciting happenings in the coming week. If you’d like to contribute a listing, please email Current associate editor/senior reporter Leigh Blander at lblander@marbleheadnews.org.  Slavery to freedom walking tourSaturday, Sept 30, 10 a.m. and 1 p.m.; Saturday, Oct. 7 1p.m. Join Jarrett Zeman, assistant director at the Marblehead Museum, for his new walking tour on the history of slavery and abolitionism in Marblehead. Ever since Marbleheaders built the Desire, the first ship to transport enslaved people to Massachusetts Bay Colony, Marblehead has experienced close links to slavery. You'll see sites of local slavery from the 1700s and sites from the 1800s where black and white abolitionists fought for freedom from the pulpit, the ballot box, and the ...
With new gallery, ’Header hopes to ‘spark creativity’
Art, Business, Culture, Local News, Top Stories

With new gallery, ’Header hopes to ‘spark creativity’

Artist Ian Sherwin, who grew up in Marblehead, is coming home and opening a new gallery on State Street next month. The space will showcase artists from around the country and offer a variety of programs and classes. “I’m here to inspire, teach and lead,” Sherwin said, speaking while renovating his one-room gallery at 1 State St. “My mission is to spark creativity.” Sherwin, who graduated from Marblehead High in 1995, fell in love with art as a kid.  Ian Shewrin, who is opening a new gallery on State Street, unboxes works by artist Jennifer Lashbrook. CURRENT PHOTO / LEIGH BLANDER “It was my escape, my salvation,” he said. At Marblehead High, school nurse Lynne Breed noticed his talent and encouraged him. The two are still friends.  Artist Ian Sherwin created this p...
Picture day!
Education, Fashion, Local News

Picture day!

Kindergartener Maximilian Averback at the Epstein Hillel School went all out for picture day on Sept. 19, wearing a snazzy, sparkly suit. Here he is waiting in line for his close-up. Averback received many compliments from EHS teachers, including “You look like a Maximilian bucks” and “I can’t tell if this is the Oscars or school photos!”