TURNERS FALLS — Members of the School Committee for Franklin County Technical School have voted to appoint Pathfinder Regional Vocational Technical High School’s principal as their next superintendent, pending successful contract negotiations.
Ryan Rege was unanimously selected on Wednesday to replace Richard Martin, who has been at the helm for 11 years and will step down on June 30. Rege applied for the position on March 24, and intends to hammer out the details on his salary and tenure before the School Committee meeting slated for June 10.
“It’s a long process, but I’m ecstatic to be here. It feels like the right fit for me. I’m really excited about it,” he said in an interview after Wednesday’s meeting. “I really want to just kind of come in and be a listener, and get a good understanding of how the school and the people here are operating, and then make some decisions from there about what’s a priority as we move forward.”
According to his résumé, Rege is an adjunct professor at Westfield State and Fitchburg State universities, and has been Pathfinder’s principal since July 2024, having previously been Montachusett Regional Vocational Technical School’s vocational programs director.
At Wednesday’s meeting, Rege explained that he comes from a family of educators and dinner conversations often revolved around education. He said he has a passion for the culinary arts and worked in eateries, including as a sous chef in a French restaurant, before a family friend asked him to substitute teach in Chicopee.
“I absolutely loved the experience,” he recalled, adding that he then pursued a career in education. He holds degrees from Holyoke Community College, Westfield State and Fitchburg State.
Laura Earl, who serves on the search committee tasked with finding Martin’s replacement, said Rege’s background in vocational education sets him apart. Colleague John Passiglia said Rege “was a standout right from the get-go,” and Sean Knightly said the Belchertown resident has a great heart and a “student-first philosophy.”
John Pelletier, who represents Conway on the Franklin Tech School Committee, spoke up at Wednesday’s meeting to say he was a bit concerned to see several short tenures on Rege’s résumé. Rege acknowledged this but assured Pelletier that he would like nothing more than to finish his career at Franklin Tech.
Martin chimed in to say Rege’s vocational education background is “mission-critical.” He and Franklin Tech’s Career and Technical Education Director Maggie Nugent both said their own résumés contain some short tenures, but that this does not indicate a lack of professional commitment.
“As superintendent, I would make it a priority to be visible and accessible,” Rege said. “I’ve wanted to be a school superintendent for a while now.”
Committee Chair Richard Kuklewicz told Rege he is thrilled “to have found someone with the qualifications you have.”
Martin told the Greenfield Recorder he intends to remain local in his retirement and plans to do some consulting work around the state, helping people who are aspiring to be superintendents and school administrators.
