Enfield School Superintendent Announces Retirement

ENFIELD, CT — Superintendent of Schools Jeff Schumann will be leaving the Enfield public school system at the end of the current academic year.

Schumann announced his decision to step down to the Board of Education Wednesday, and informed school staff members in an email Wednesday night.

His email read:

Good evening,

Because of the timeliness of this message, I am writing to all you when actually I would much rather be able to share this in person. As some of you may know, during the last ten months I've lost my brother-in-law, dad and a college teammate. This has generated a period of deep reflection.

Over the last 40 years, I have been studying to be and have been a professional public school educator, the last five being the pinnacle of this pursuit as the Superintendent of the Enfield Public Schools. It is now time, while there is time, to follow other passions, and that is exactly what I intend to do. This evening I informed the Board of Education of my intent to retire at the end of this school year. You may be inclined to ask what am I going to do. The answer is I really won't know until I'm doing it. It may be related to our profession, and it may not; at this time there is no plan. This is both a liberating and scary phenomenon; nevertheless, I am confident this is the right decision for me and my family.

It has been an honor and a pleasure to work with all of you in the Enfield Public Schools. I am proud of you and the great things we have done together. This district will do many more outstanding things in the years to come. Public education has always been the foundation of our democracy, and your work will ensure the future strength of our country.

I look forward to finishing the year strong and assisting in a smooth transition to a new Superintendent.

Thank you for a wonderful experience.

Best regards,

Jeff

Schumann was hired in fall 2011 to replace longtime superintendent John Gallacher, who retired at the conclusion of the 2011-12 school year. He had previously worked as a secondary school administrator and then deputy superintendent in Newington.

Patch file photo