New Interim Headmaster Named At Greenwich High School

GREENWICH, CT — Ralph Mayo, currently interim Schools Superintendent, will keep the interim tag, but will switch it over to Greenwich High School where he will be the school's interim Headmaster next year while a new search for a replacement begins.

The district has already conducted a national search for a new headmaster at the high school, but officials failed to come up with a suitable candidate to take over for current interim Headmaster Rick Piotrzkowski.

Now the new search will fall under the direction of incoming Schools Superintendent Dr. Toni Jones, whose own hiring was not without controversy in January.

Those choppy waters appear to have been smoothed over, in part after Mayo said he was OK with the decision to hire Jones over him, and he urged supporters to move on.

His new role heading up GHS takes effect July 1, and after speaking with Jones, who is currently the Schools Superintendent in Fairfield, he decided to take this course of action to get a fresh look at new candidates.

"In consultation with Dr. Jones, I have decided that re-opening the position this late in the administrator hiring cycle is not in the best interest of the school or the district," Mayo stated during a Board of Education meeting Thursday night. "It is preferable to appoint an interim leader,allowing Dr. Jones to conduct a search next year to bring in a new Headmaster/Headmistress for the 2020-2021 school year."

Piotrzkowski will return to his previous position as the school's Assistant Headmaster. Mayo thanked him for his leadership, and stressed that he is looking forward with working with him again.

Board of Education Chair Peter Bernstein also thanked Mayo for his efforts in leading the District this year noting, "the Board of Education does not make administrative assignments, however, Mr.Mayo has consulted with Dr. Jones and the Board and he has our support in this decision."

Added Mayo, "I am confident that I will bring the stability to the school community that is needed at this time, and that I will provide the leadership needed to begin the transformation necessary to position Greenwich High School for its next phase of excellence."

As for the next leader of the high school, Mayo recommends "we must ensure we have a leader in place who will provide the continuity, implement the vision and develop the strategies necessary to take Greenwich High School" to greater levels.

The district also intends to look for a new principal at Eastern Middle School, where Mayo had served as leader for 14 years.