With new Wareham Public Schools Superintendent Kimberly Shaver-Hood comes a revamped website, an increased presence on Facebook and Twitter, and a blog written by the school chief herself.

Shaver-Hood says it's all part of increasing communication with parents and fostering accountability.

"There are so many good things happening in the buildings that I can't wait to share with the community," Shaver-Hood says, speaking on her fourth day at the office.

She's spent her first week meeting people in the schools and the community and working with administrators.

"We've been plotting our course for the year," she said, "carving out our goals and visions."

"I feel very fortunate about the foundation that's been laid ... by the last superintendent. Part of my job is to continue to build," she added, noting: "If we do the same old thing, we're going to get the same old results."

Shaver-Hood says she is looking at "efficiencies."

"Are we making sure that we get the most out of every tax dollar that we receive?" she asks.

Not surprisingly, her top priority is "to meet the needs of all students" and "making sure we have high expectations," Shaver-Hood said, but just as important, "we're going to be focusing on opening our doors."

"I'm going to make myself available," she says. "Stay tuned."

Shaver-Hood, who recently moved to Onset, explained that she is working on a schedule in which she will meet with parents on a regular basis. She also welcomes the community to reach out to her via phone at the 508-291-3500, or via e-mail at kshaver-hood@wareham.k12.ma.us, and says she's happy to meet at the district offices or out in the community.

"I love being in the community and meeting people, so when they have an issue or concern," they feel comfortable sharing it, Shaver-Hood says. "I would like people to please share their thoughts. Share their concerns. I really appreciate the support and I look forward to working with them."

Speaking of the district offices... they're moving from Town Hall to the Multi-Service Center, across the parking lot. And, due to roof and maintenance issues at the Everett Educational Center on Gibbs Avenue, the offices of Curriculum and Instruction and Student Services will also be moving to the Multi-Service Center.

Shaver-Hood is harnessing the power of the Internet in her effort to connect with the community.

The district is rolling out a new, more user-friendly website with an option to report information anonymously to the superintendent herself.

"This will give people a vehicle to share information," said Shaver-Hood, who noted that while she was serving as superintendent of the Blackstone-Millville school district in Blackstone, Mass., this function on the school's website was often a popular way for parents to send any information they did not feel comfortable sharing personally, for whatever reason.

Shaver-Hood said she found out about a school bus that was repeatedly driving the wrong way down a one-way street, and was able to take care of the situation.

The superintendent also found success in blogging about goings on in the school system to keep the community updated.

In Wareham, she has asked principals to funnel all happenings to her. She plans on blogging every two weeks.

Wareham Public Schools already has a Facebook feed, but Shaver-Hood wants to ramp up the use of that and of Twitter as a method of getting information out.

With her iPad within arm's reach in the superintendent's office, she exclaimed: "Sign up and follow us on Twitter and Facebook!"

Shaver-Hood originally hails from Indiana. She ended up on the East Coast because her son, Sam, was a competitive diver, and in high school, he had the opportunity to dive with a coach and team in Philadelphia.

So, off they went.

Shaver-Hood worked as a teacher and, for many years, in school guidance.

"When [Sam] graduated, I said, 'It's time for me,'" Shaver-Hood recalled.

That's when she landed a job as a principal in the Blackstone-Millville district. She was later promoted to assistant superintendent, and in January of 2010, became the superintendent.

Sam went on to Florida State, but unfortunately, his diving career was cut short after he broke a vertebrate.

Shaver-Hood also has a daughter, Stephanie, and "two wonderful grandchildren," she says.

Shaver-Hood received her Bachelor's degree from Franklin College and holds a Master's degree in Education Administration from Widener University. She is currently completing her Doctorate at Northeastern University, where she has completed all coursework and is working on her dissertation.

As she gets her bearings in Wareham, Shaver-Hood says she's most looking forward to the first day of school and meeting the students.

She's already gotten a warm welcome from some of them.

On her first day of work on August 1, she checked her e-mail and had received a photo of students who are in the district's extended care summer program.

The students were holding a sign that said, "Welcome to Wareham."

"That was how I started my day," she said with a smile.