While the departure of one Boston Public Schools superintendent, the hiring of an interim chief, and the search for a new superintendent can mean turmoil for an already chaotic system, it also offers opportunity for positive change (“Interim superintendent pick set to make ‘important moves,’ ’’ Page A1, June 29).

But before making changes, any superintendent must understand the district’s challenges and appreciate its goals. Given the enormity of the job, earning families’ confidence and motivating BPS employees to persevere through change are essential.

We need a leader to reallocate human resources, with more people working to fulfill students’ and families’ education needs and fewer in the central office working on ancillary endeavors.

We need a teacher in this position — someone who has spent enough time in a classroom to know what a policy decision might mean in practice, not just theory. The algorithm-designed proposal to change school start times, which caused parents so much distress and resulted in countless hours in meetings, is a perfect example of why this is so.

Of course a resume of relevant experience is a given. But BPS deserves a superintendent who gets that wisdom is a shared resource. Listening to teachers, principals, parents, kids, and even city councilors takes time, but good decisions are worth the effort. Our new superintendent must invest in relationships and believe in the benefits of transparency to repair relationships with school families.

Finding that leader won’t be easy, but my kids — and those of all other BPS families — are worth it.

Annissa Essaibi-George

City councilor at large

Boston

The writer chairs the council’s Committee on Education.