A Calling to Serve: Superintendent Bill Harbron's Eight-Year Journey in Dover

In this episode of the Dover Download podcast, Deputy City Manager Christopher Parker chats with outgoing Dover School Superintendent Dr. William Harbron about his eight-year tenure and upcoming retirement. Harbron reflects on what drew him to Dover from Ohio, particularly the quality and supportiveness of the Board of Education and the community's commitment to education. He discusses his role in "healing the district," as former board member Paula Glen advised him upon arrival, and how he focused on building collaborative relationships and investing in professional development.

Harbron highlights key accomplishments including the development of a streamlined one-page strategic plan, the expansion of the teaching and learning department from one to four staff members, and the implementation of Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) and Professional Learning Communities. He emphasizes the importance of systematic thinking and collaboration, praising colleagues like CFO Michael Limanni and MTSS Director Travis Bickford for their innovative approaches.

Looking toward retirement, Harbron discusses his transition to executive coaching, drawing on his experience conducting monthly one-on-one conversations with principals. He stresses that education is a "calling" rather than just a job, sharing stories about the importance of teachers connecting with students. Harbron also reflects on improving city-school relationships, crediting City Manager J. Michael Joyal, Jr. for fostering collaboration between the municipal and school sides of Dover's government. He emphasizes his philosophy of stewardship, believing leaders should recognize when their skill set has served its purpose and it's time for new leadership.

In This Week in Dover History, we learn about Dover's 1990s exploration of creating its own municipal electric utility to escape high rates from Public Service of New Hampshire, a controversial effort that ultimately failed, but led to today's Community Power program launched in 2023.