Town Government
School Committee & Superintendent
The Superintendent
Sara Ahern, Ed.D.
Sara Ahern has been Superintendent of the Barnstable Public Schools since 2022. She arrived from Franklin, where she had been superintendent, and she holds a doctorate in educational administration from Boston College. The district she now leads is the largest on Cape Cod, with roughly 4,511 students. One thing worth understanding: the Superintendent is not elected. She is hired by, and reports to, the School Committee you do elect.
| Role | Superintendent of Schools |
|---|---|
| In office | Since 2022 |
| District office | 230 South Street, Hyannis, MA 02601 |
| Phone | 508-862-4953 |
| Website | barnstable.k12.ma.us |
The School Committee
Five people, elected town-wide and answering to no other board, run the policy and the money for your schools. The Barnstable School Committee sets district policy, adopts the school budget, and hires, evaluates, and can replace the Superintendent. If you are a student here, no election shapes your daily life more, and the five people who win it are yours to watch, to write to, and one day to vote for.
Kathy Bent
Mike Judge
Jennifer Cullum
Andre King
Courtney West
The District at a Glance
- Enrollment: roughly 4,511 students, PreK to grade 12, the largest district on Cape Cod.
- Schools: an early learning center, several elementary schools, an intermediate school, and Barnstable High School.
- Barnstable High: one of the largest high schools on the Cape, home of the Red Raiders.
- State data: DESE profile (code 00200000).
Meetings & Participation
- When: on a regular schedule, with agendas posted by the district and the town.
- Public comment: residents may address the Committee. Check the agenda for sign-up details.
- Watch: meetings air on Barnstable Government Access and are available on demand.
- Subcommittees: a lot of the real work happens here, in smaller groups on policy, facilities, and finance.
Sources
Barnstable school committee (barnstable.k12.ma.us). Verified July 2026.
What this seat decides
Your schools
School Committee. Start times, the school calendar, bus routes and stops, the phone policy, athletics and activity fees, and anything in the student handbook. It sets district policy, and the total size of the school budget is voted by Town Meeting, or by your Mayor and Council in a city.
Your principal and your superintendent. The principal for how a school rule works day to day in your building. The superintendent for how the whole district runs. The School Committee hires exactly one employee, the superintendent, so a question about any other staff member goes to the district, not to the board.
Curious how a bill becomes law or how students can take on a civics project?