New Braintree Superintendent is Assistant Superintendent Dr. Murray

The quick choice of Assistant Superintendent Dr. Maureen Murray as Braintree's next superintendent starting this summer was a no-brainer for School Committee members.

"We have the right person right here," Mayor Joseph Sullivan said.

The committee voted unanimously Monday night to appoint Dr. Murray as the replacement for Superintendent Dr. Peter Kurzberg, who announced his upcoming retirement during a meeting last month.

Dr. Murray joined Braintree Public Schools in July 2007 as the assistant superintendent. She previously served as the curriculum director in Walpole and worked for many years in Brockton, starting as a special education teacher in 1979 and ending as the director of a federal grant program.

The committee was under no obligation to cast a wider net for Dr. Kurzberg's replacement, Committee Chair Shannon Hume said. She added that Braintree is lucky to have someone like Dr. Murray, who works tirelessly for students and who earned a doctorate while employed with the district.

"It is a difficult task to find a replacement for Dr. Kurzberg," Hume said. "He has done an incredible job, to say the least."

Dr. Murray said she plans to keep the interests of students foremost in her mind while tackling the array of issues Braintree faces, such as space needs and the annual budget crunch.

When she came to town, Dr. Murray said Braintree first caught her eye as a high-performing district. She soon found out why, as she began working with what she said are "tireless" advocates for children.

"Our teachers and our staff are amazing," Dr. Murray said. "There is a can-do attitude here in Braintree. Mediocrity isn't acceptable here."

The school department will now advertise for an assistant superintendent.

"The transition will be seamless," Tom Devin said.