City Government
School Committee & Superintendent
The Superintendent
Dr. Deanne (Dede) Galdston
About 2,843 Watertown students start their day in this district, and one person answers for all of it. Dr. Deanne Galdston, known as Dede, has led Watertown Public Schools as Superintendent since 2017. She came to Watertown after years in the Billerica schools, where she rose from teacher to assistant superintendent, and she began her career teaching Spanish and history. She runs a system of five schools, proposes the school budget, sets academic priorities, and answers to the elected School Committee. The Superintendent is hired by and reports to that committee, and her contract has been extended into 2028.
| Role | Superintendent of Schools |
|---|---|
| In office | Since 2017 |
| District office | Watertown Public Schools, Watertown, MA 02472 |
| Phone | 617-926-7700 |
| Website | watertown.k12.ma.us |
The School Committee
Watertown’s School Committee has seven seats. Six members are elected citywide by Watertown voters, and the City Council President serves as the seventh member, ex officio. The committee chooses its own leaders, and as of 2026 the chair is Kendra Foley. It sets district policy, approves the school budget, and hires and evaluates the Superintendent who runs the schools day to day. The committee was reorganized in January 2026 after the November 2025 election brought new members aboard.
Kendra Foley
Jessica Middlebrook
Amy Donohue
Lisa Capoccia
Rachel Kay
Sheila Krishnan
Mark S. Sideris
The District at a Glance
- Enrollment: 2,843 students, PreK through 12.
- Schools: five, including Watertown High School.
- Graduation rate: about 85.2% for the most recent reported cohort.
- State data: DESE profile (code 03140000).
Meetings & Participation
- When: the committee meets at the Watertown Public Schools administration building, with agendas posted on the district website.
- Public comment: residents may address the committee. Check the agenda for sign-up details.
- Watch: meetings are carried on Watertown Cable and available on demand.
- Subcommittees: much of the detailed work on budget, policy, and facilities happens in subcommittees.
Sources
Watertown school committee (watertown.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?