Q&A: Gary Mala Prepares to Leave RSD17

Gary Mala will soon vacate the office he has travelled to every day for the past seven years, to embark upon a new endeavor as Superintendent of Schools for the Avon School District. Patch recently caught up with Region 17's outgoing superintendent. Interestingly, his office showed no signs of anyone moving out, there were no boxes packed, the walls were not bare, favorite t-shirts from school teams and organizations were still hanging from the ceiling. It looked like business as usual with Mala wrapping up a day spent with Acting Superintendent Dr. John Sullivan of Ivoryton.

Patch: Why are you leaving now?

Mala: This was an unplanned opportunity that came out of nowhere. I had a call from the search committee in Avon who thought my skills fit their needs.  I agreed to be interviewed by their search committee because I feel it's important for professionals to continually assess their skills against their peers. I was curious to learn more based on the information the search committee provided. I felt that I couldn't pass up the opportunity because I don't know if I'll get another opportunity.  I underestimated how difficult the decision would be.

Patch: What attracted you to RSD17 seven years ago?

Mala: I had done my homework about the District prior to applying to come here and I thought I had something to offer the children, the parents, the teachers and administrators and the District as a whole. My perception was that the District had enormous potential - high quality students with supportive families that needed to be brought together to focus on the purpose of their schools. I saw a need to bring all the pieces together and believed that I could help achieve that.

Patch: What attracted you to the Avon school district?

Mala: I saw that some of the processes and systems that we put in place here are needed in Avon. The two districts are not that dissimilar in that their systems and processes need attention. For instance, I want to look at how their budget is presented - they need transparency and consistency. I think there's a way to simplify their complex system. There are also some geographic differences that I find attractive. Avon is a little bigger and the school board just deals with one entity instead of being an island in-between two entities (Haddam and Killingworth). They are also a high performing school district and I want to see how and why that happens.

Patch: What challenges did you face when you came to Haddam-Killingworth?

Mala: One of the biggest challenges was filling administrative vacancies. In a short time after my arrival all but one our schools had new principals. The challenge was to provide to leadership and stability, particularly at the high school which had been through numerous principals in a very short time. I also needed to open the lines of communication between the superintendent's office and the various constituents - administrators, teachers, parents and students. Communication became my focal point. The challenge was to "open" the District up for people to look in and ask questions - they didn't have that before. This was a new beginning and became the basis for my annual back-to-school  banners.

Patch: How have those challenges been met?

Mala: I think the challenges of the District have been met in a variety of ways. We have been able to educate people about what happens in our schools. We have opened the lines of communication and made the District much more transparent to everyone. Have we succeeded all around? No. I am also quick to admit when errors have been made.

Patch: What do you feel is your biggest accomplishment?

Mala: I think the answer will surprise you. I feel that I have accomplished nothing as an individual. All the accomplishments that have been achieved in the District have been accomplished by groups of people. It has been my job to lead and make decisions and bring people together to accomplish our goals. There are huge things that have happened in this District with our programs; the addition of more Advanced Placement classes; we've build a new school on time and under budget; so many things that have been achieved because we've brought people together to meet those goals.

Patch: What else would you like to have accomplished here?

Mala: The list goes on. I had hoped to establish a vocational-agriculture program here with a strong emphasis on math and science. I would like to see technology take a more prominent role in education at the middle school and high school levels - there's so much potential there to bring so many more programs and opportunities for our children. I would like to see expansion of the student internship program at the high school. I would have loved for us to offer more languages, but we're limited by staffing.

Patch: What is your fondest memory of RSD17?

Mala: Wow.. I have so many. But my fondest memory no matter where I go is welcoming our youngest students to kindergarten every year. They have no bias; they have tremendous capacity; and they're optimistic. I love that magic of the first experience of school. I want to make sure they have the best experience for all 13 years they're in school. I want them to always have the magic.

Patch: What advice or guidance would you give to the incoming superintendent?

Mala: Listen. Develop relationships that are necessary and appropriate. Continue to be interactive with the students at all levels. Be visible in the District. Don't try to fool the kids, don't be something you're not - they'll figure it out. This is not a cookie cutter profession. Whoever the Board chooses I have tremendous confidence that the decision makers know what is needed.

For the time being, the Mala's plan to continue living in Killingworth, and to watch their youngest daughter graduate from HK High School in June.

"We have no desire to move, " said Mala. "It  will be very hard to walk away from the District."