Murphy to depart as Concord superintendent in 2026

Kathleen Murphy

Kathleen Murphy

Kathleen Murphy

Kathleen Murphy

By CATHERINE McLAUGHLIN

Monitor staff

Published: 02-04-2025 3:41 PM

Modified: 02-04-2025 4:12 PM


Concord Superintendent Kathleen Murphy will leave the district at the end of the 2025-2026 school year, with the approval of a one-year contract renewal by the Concord Board of Education on Monday night.

With her contract expiring this summer, Murphy was asked how long she’d be willing to stay on, and she agreed to one more year, according to Board President Pamela Walsh.

“We wish it was more,” Walsh said at the meeting.

“Superintendent Murphy has provided steady, consistent leadership in the face of a lot of tough, tough issues,” Walsh added Tuesday, highlighting Murphy’s work to restructure and strengthen the administrative team, close learning gaps following the COVID-19 pandemic and develop the district’s first strategic plan. “She has done an awful lot to right the ship.”

Murphy does not yet have plans beyond Concord, and she said she is focused on and excited about the 18 months ahead.

“I love the work that I do, and I love it every single day,” she said. “I don’t know what will transpire in [20]26 but I think, for me, the bottom line is that I have an opportunity to spend some more time here and doing the work that is so important.”

The school board will begin the search process for a new superintendent over the summer and early fall, Walsh said. Money will be set aside in the proposed budget for next year to engage a search firm.

Murphy reflected positively on her time in Concord so far: “Our gaps are narrowing in the important subjects, reading and math and science… and I see our work around children’s mental health really making a difference,” she said. “I think that my style is to bring in strong people that can help us solve problems, and I think we’ve been able to do that.”

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Murphy will have a full plate in the coming year. New leadership in Washington and in the state house have educators anxious about possible cuts, caps and downshifted costs. After a location swap, Concord needs to retrace its steps on plans for a new middle school in time to be eligible for state building aid, if it’s even available. Additionally, union contracts for administrators, teachers and educational assistants are all up for renegotiation before the end of 2026.

“It’s going to be challenging, but I look forward to those challenges. I am very fortunate in Concord to be surrounded by a great team,” Murphy said. “We’re going to have to be creative, and we’re going to have to be insightful about how we manage all of that in order to deliver what we have to do every day.”

Preceded by interim superintendent Frank Bass, who came aboard after Terri Forsten’s departure, Murphy first came to Concord under an interim title in July, 2020. Like other districts at the time, Concord was trying to educate students through the thicket of the pandemic. Unlike other districts, it was still facing backlash from its mishandling of the Howie Leung investigation. Murphy brought with her 10 years as superintendent in Hampton and a 2017 recognition as New Hampshire Superintendent of the Year.

In 2021, Murphy signed a three-year contract with the district. When she departs in 2026, she will have been at the helm of Concord Schools for six years.

Her pay for the upcoming year will be determined in the upcoming budget process, according to Walsh. This year, the superintendent’s salary is $190,000.

Catherine McLaughlin can be reached at cmclaughlin@cmonitor.com.