March 5, 2026 by Hingham Public Schools
On Tuesday March 10th and Wednesday March 11th, Hingham Public Schools invites families, staff, and community members to meet the three finalists for the principal of Hingham High School. The site visit will provide an opportunity to hear directly from each candidate and share your feedback to support the selection process.
Please fill out this form to receive the Zoom link for the evening community forum.
FINALISTS:
John Buckey, Ed.D. Currently the Interim High School Principal for Hingham Public Schools in Hingham, MA, Dr. Buckey previously served as Superintendent of Schools for Marblehead Public Schools from 2020–2023. Prior to this role, he served as Principal of Nantucket High School from 2008–2020 and as Principal and Assistant Principal at Littleton High School from 2001–2008. He began his career as a Spanish teacher and foreign language department coordinator at The Lexington School in Lexington, KY. Dr. Buckey holds a Doctor of Education in Educational Administration and Organizational Leadership from Northeastern University (Boston, MA), a Master of Education in Administration, Planning and Social Policy from the Harvard Graduate School of Education (Cambridge, MA), post-baccalaureate studies in Educational Administration from the University of Kentucky (Lexington, KY), and Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science degrees in Spanish and Secondary Education from Asbury College (Wilmore, KY). He holds Massachusetts licensure as a Superintendent/Assistant Superintendent (All Levels) and Principal/Assistant Principal (9–12), with a Sheltered English Immersion Administrator Endorsement.
Hilary Filkins Currently the Assistant Principal at Stoughton High School in Stoughton, MA, Ms. Filkins previously served as Upper School Interim Principal and Dean of Teaching and Learning at Atlantis Charter School in Fall River, MA, and as Humanities Department Chair at Talbot Middle School in Fall River, MA. She began her career as an English teacher at Brockton High School, where she taught from 2005–2020. Ms. Filkins holds a Bachelor of Arts in English and Creative Writing from the University of Arizona (Tucson, AZ) and a Master’s degree in Teaching from the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth (Dartmouth, MA). She is a Principal Fellow with the Boston College Lynch Leadership Academy (Boston, MA) and is currently pursuing a Doctorate in Educational and Organizational Leadership at the University of Pennsylvania (Philadelphia, PA). Ms. Filkins holds Massachusetts professional licensure in English (8–12), Superintendent/Assistant Superintendent (All Levels), Supervisory Core ELA (6–8), and Principal/Assistant Principal (5–12), along with Sheltered English Immersion endorsements for both teacher and administrator roles.
Sean T. Woodard-McNiff, J.D. Currently the Principal of Knox Trail Middle School in Spencer, MA, Mr. Woodard-McNiff previously served as Principal of Normandin Middle School in New Bedford, MA; Upper School Principal at New Bedford High School in New Bedford, MA; Principal of South Hadley High School in South Hadley, MA; Assistant Principal and Acting Principal at Marblehead High School in Marblehead, MA; and Assistant Principal at Lowell Catholic High School in Lowell, MA. He began his career as an English teacher at Fitchburg High School in Fitchburg, MA. Mr. Woodard-McNiff holds a Juris Doctor from New England School of Law (Boston, MA) and a Bachelor of Arts in Literature from Fitchburg State College (Fitchburg, MA). He is licensed as a K–12 Principal in Massachusetts and has participated in the Harvard School Turnaround Leadership Academy and the Boston College Lynch Leadership Group.