UPDATE: Greenwich School Superintendent Apologizes for 'Premature' Announcement

Update: 10:35 a.m.

Greenwich Superintendent of Schools Bill McKersie has apologized to the Westport Public Schools for prematurely announcing the possible appointment of Shelley Somers as principal of Staples High School.

And Westport Schools Superintendent Elliott Landon also issued a statement regarding the process to select the high school principal. He also said, “The press notice from Greenwich was released in error and Greenwich has accepted full responsibility for this error in communication.”

According to a statement issued mid-Wednesday morning by Greenwich Public Schools, “Dr. McKersie misunderstood the status and timing of the appointment.”

Here is the statement released by Landon:

Despite the recent press release sent by the Greenwich Public Schools, Shelley Somers HAS NOT been appointed as the Principal of Staples High School at this time. The press release was issued in error and Greenwich has apologized to me and the Westport community for its error.

For your information, the search committee consisting of teachers, parents, administrators, and students was unanimous in advising me to recommend to the Board of Education that Ms. Somers be appointed to replace John Dodig effective July 1, 2015. An interview with the Board is scheduled for Tuesday evening, May 26.

Both Ms. Somers and I are excited about the possibility that she may join our staff. She is an accomplished leader in Greenwich who enjoys the respect and appreciation of teachers, students, parents and her administrative colleagues. Most recently she was named Connecticut PTA Middle School Principal of the Year.

As of this date, Ms. Somers has not been interviewed by any members of the Board of Education. She is scheduled to meet with the community, teachers, students and administrative staff of Staples on Tuesday, May 26 beginning at 9:00 am and will be expected to comment and receive questions about her full career and the qualities that she may bring to Westport. The full day of meetings with staff and students will culminate with an interview with the seven members of the Board of Education that evening.

To repeat, the press notice from Greenwich was released in error and Greenwich has accepted full responsibility for this error in communication.

Update: 9:15 a.m. May 20:

Will Greenwich middle school principal Shelley Somers be heading to Westport to become principal of Staples High School?

That’s apparently the question that won’t be answered until the Westport Board of Education meets on May 26.

On Tuesday evening, Greenwich Public Schools announced that Somers is leaving Central Middle School where she has been principal since 2009, having accepted the Staples position.

On Wednesday morning, Westport School Superintendent Elliott Landon said that Greenwich Public Schools prematurely made the announcement.

“We are trying to assess this. Shelley Somers will not be interviewed by the Board of Education until Tuesday, May 26. A press release was supposed to go out on Wednesday, May 27 but for some reason it went out this Wednesday,” Landon said.

Messages seeking comment were left Wednesday morning for Greenwich schools spokesman Kim Eves and for Somers.

“It’s embarrassing for us and it is embarrassing for Shelley Somers,” Landon added.

According to Landon, “We interviewed 10 people and we have narrowed it down to Shelley Somers.” It was anticipated that after meeting with the Westport school board next Tuesday, Somers would be appointed, Landon said.

Asked whether the premature announcement would impact the board’s decision, Landon said, “That’s anybody’s guess. I anticipate the board will approve but I can’t say for sure until it happens.”

The Westport school board is seeking to appoint a successor to John Dodig who is leaving after 11 years as Staples’ principal, Landon said.

Original story: 7:15 p.m. May 19

Central Middle School (CMS) Principal Shelley Somers, who was named middle school principal of the year in Connecticut this year, is resigning as she has accepted the position of principal of Staples High School in Westport.

Somers has been with the Greenwich Public Schools as CMS Principal for the last six years. Her appointment at Staples is effective July 1.

“Although I am sad to leave, I feel confident that Central will continue to meet the academic, social, and emotional needs of our students. I have enjoyed working with and will miss the Central Middle School community, especially the students, as well as my colleagues across the District. I am looking forward to returning to high school, and I am excited about becoming part of the Staples community,” Somers said in a statement.

A student-centered and collaborative leader, Somers has been a staunch advocate for developing programs and practices for meeting the unique needs of middle school students in Greenwich. Her tenure at CMS has been focused on programs and practices that are developmentally responsive, challenging, empowering and equitable. She has provided guidance as facilitator for the Middle School Network, working with peers in developing the professional learning plans for middle school teachers and modeling effective data-driven decision making through the GPS Data Team structure. She also has been instrumental in bringing AVID to Central Middle School.

Greenwich Superintendent of Schools William S. McKersie said in a statement, “We applaud Shelley Somers’ appointment as Principal of Staples High School. Ms. Somers is a prime example of the expert educators that we have in our district--she has always focused first and foremost on the intellectual, social, emotional and physical well being of her students. We will miss her greatly as a professional colleague and wish her all the best in her new role.”

The search for a Central Middle School Principal will begin immediately.

Somers joined the Greenwich Public Schools in 2009 as principal of Central Middle School. She also serves as leader for the GPS Middle School Network representing her peers in this District-wide collaborative planning structure. Somers received the CT-PTA’s Middle School Principal of the Year Award in 2015.

Prior to joining the Greenwich Public Schools as Central Middle School Principal, Somers worked for the Beaufort County Schools for 10 years as teacher and administrator at the secondary level (1999- 2009). In her role as English and Spanish teacher at the Humanities School of Beaufort in 1999-2000 she designed curriculum for both disciplines and created a Drama Department for the school, directing four productions.

In 2000, she moved to Battery Creek High School in Beaufort as an English teacher and Department Chair. She taught English and Journalism for students in grades 9-12, supervised the Department, developed and implemented a Tech Prep curriculum and a ‘small learning community’ for at- risk students. She was recognized for her significant contributions to the school as the Battery Creek High School 2003 Teacher of the Year. In 2003, she was appointed Assistant Principal for Hilton Head High School, where she was responsible for the English and Social Studies Departments and acted as the ESOL Coordinator.

Somers received her bachelor’s in education from American University in 1973; her Master’s in Education from the University of Hartford in 1980; and her Administrative Certification from Central Connecticut State University in 1996.

Photo courtesy of Greenwich Public Schools.