CHESHIRE, Mass. — The search for an interim superintendent took an unexpected turn Monday night when one of candidates declared the post was "not a good fit," thanked the committee and left.

The departure of Christine Canning came at the end of a somewhat tense interview with the Adams-Cheshire Regional School Committee over the needs and expectations of the school district. At one point, she turned to fellow candidate Robert Putnam, shook his hand and said, "congratulations, you've got the job."

Canning and Putnam, former superintendent of the Central Berkshire Regional School District, were selected along with a third candidate to be interviewed for the post. That individual dropped out earlier in the day.

Chairman Paul Butler said the district had received a lot of applications but described the three finalists as "head and shoulders" above the rest. The committee will meet Wednesday to discuss Monday's events; Butler did not anticipate dipping back into the candidate pool.

The interim will replace Kristen Gordon, who agreed to resign at the end of the school year. She has been hired as principal of Conway Grammar School.

Both Canning and Putnam were interviewed at the same time over about an hour, taking turns answering questions. Both stressed the importance of community involvement, teacher evaluation and working within budgets. They both also had experience in contract negotiations, with Putnam having the most.

Putnam spent 14 years as an administrator before leaving Central Berkshire a year ago over stated family commitments. He has since been a music teacher at Monument Mountain Middle School but desires to return to an administrative role.

"I spent the last year as a teacher and it's given me a unique insight," he said. "I felt that my eyes have opened over what administrators can do."

That includes being a coach for teachers as well as being a very visible part of the school community.

"I don't see an interim position as being a time-marking position," Putnam said, but rather "laying the groundwork for what is happening after the interim's departure."

In response to questions, he said he was aware of the Berkshire County Education Task Force's exploration of collaborative methods and felt he could help begin preparations for the likelihood of consolidations and partnerships.

"My job is to realize the goals of the School Committee," Putnam said. "You're going to need someone who can take this plan and make it happen."

Canning, who has a long career in education and has been an educational consultant with the U.S. State Department, was upfront with the committee about her actions as a whistleblower (winning a past grievance against Taconic High School) and described herself as a "go-getter."

She said she had done a great deal of research on the district and had spoken to residents. She recommended certifying all the teachers in special education as a cost savings and said she would address the district's high student absentee rate. She also stressed the need to work with teachers on self-evaluation and lesson planning.

"I don't judge people because I realize every class is different," she said. "You have to teach to the way kids learn."

She also insisted that the school district was in danger of being taken over the by the state Department of Education as a Level 4 and that the current School Committee would be on the outs.

Hoosac Valley High School and Plunkett School are Level 3; Cheshire School is Level 2.

"The reality right now is your ability to get funding is based on your scores, your ability to collaborate is based on your scores," she said, adding "whoever the interim is, you've got to get the schools up or you will not have 'buy in.'"

Canning commented that there seemed to be a "level of complacency" on the board and that she was the answer.

"You may not like my approach, but you need my approach," she told them.

That did not go over well with some committee members.

"I don't see how you can make a call by looking at the data and talking to people at the PNA," said School Committee member Regina Hill. "I think you need to tone down your directness until you know the district. ... I think we all have our opinion."

Vice Chairwoman Darlene Rodowicz said the committee members were volunteers who felt strongly about education but also had to deal with the reality of the district's population and the burden on its small towns.

"We need a leader who can understand all those dynamics in the community ... someone who can allow us to move this district forward," she said.

Committee member Edmund R. St. John IV specifically asked Canning, the Republican candidate for state Senate, if she would drop her campaign if hired.

Her response was no, saying most of her campaigning was done, and that, if elected, they would get more out of her in eight months than from someone else in two years.

At the outset Canning had declared, "I'm assertive and if that's not going to be a match, I'm letting you know."

She did, and she left.