What Parents Want in the School District's New Leader

What do parents want in a new superintendent of schools?

Anna Cretella, whose daughter is graduating from Masuk High School this month, believes in creativity. She wants a superintendent who will support the arts and music.

“The arts are just as important as math and science," she said. "There is a direct correlation between music and math. We need someone who will stand up for the arts during budget cuts.”

Mitch Beck, a Monroe resident with 30 years of recruiting experience, wants a superintendent “with strong fiscal responsibility. One not afraid of the unions, who can tell them ‘No’.”

With Supt. Dr. Colleen Palmer leaving the district for Weston, the search for her successor is officially underway. The New England School Development Council (NESDEC), a consultant retained by the Monroe Board of Education, gathered information from parents at a community forum held in the Masuk media center Wednesday night.

Earlier in the day sessions were held with members of the Parents Council, school administrators and teachers. There will also be focus sessions held with Board of Education members and Town Hall officials. The sessions provide an opportunity for participants to voice their concerns and tasks for the new superintendent to address.

In addition to Palmer, Monroe’s Assistant Superintendent Richard Canfield has left to become superintendent of the Sandwich, Mass., school district.

While the search is being conducted John Goetz, a retired superintendent, has been hired. He also filled in a few years ago when then Supt. of Schools Alan Beitmann left Monroe. Masuk Principal John Battista will serve as interim assistant superintendent.

A National Search

NESDEC consultants, James Connelly and Carolyn Burke acted as facilitators for the focus session. It was designed to obtain input about the attributes, experience and knowledge that participants wish the new superintendent of schools to possess.

According to professional educators, the qualities which make outstanding teachers do not always translate into success as administrators at the upper levels. Directing the course of an entire school system requires a different set of characteristics. Consequently, focus groups are important for the accumulation of information which is translated into a profile of a district’s perfect candidate. NESDEC will use that profile.

“We’re actively going after those who fit the profile whether they are already employed or not,” said lead consultant Connelly. NESDEC will be sending out announcements for the position next week through the second week in September. “Then we begin the screening,” he said. He expects by January or mid-February to have a new  superintendent in place “if all goes well,”  The search will be national with focus on the northeast coast.

What Parents Want

Among the two dozen residents attending the focus group was Lisa Braiewa, mother with two children in elementary school.

“I want a superintendent who will de-mystify the whole assessment process. The schools do a lot of testing. They get a lot of data. But it’s not given to parents in a usable manner,” she said. “The new superintendent needs to be a better partner with parents.”

Others voiced their agreement and the consensus of opinion was that “an exceptional  communicator on all levels” with parents, students, teachers, board members and town officials was needed.

Brooke Burling, a Monroe father and executive director of the Connecticut Association for the Gifted, voiced his desire for a superintendent who recognizes talent at all levels and nurtures it.

“We have been marching through the basics. There has been no gifted or talented program (in Monroe schools) for years. The attitude that smart kids can get along on their own has to change. All children should be encouraged to succeed to their own ability.”

 A number of parents uttered support and one said “Gifted and talented should be special education.”

 “There are no-cost, low-cost, creative solutions,” added Burling and many agreed that a creative problem solver is needed.

Over 30 desired attributes were listed by participants. They will be condensed and added to those voiced by other Monroe focus groups. Overall, they mirrored the desired attributes set by educators: 

• Good professional qualifications — at least a master’s degree in education administration if not a doctorate in some area of educational leadership, and hands-on experience.

•  Organizational leadership and the skills to build consensus among all groups.

• Integrity, high moral character and compassion

•  Management skills in the areas of finances and hiring.

NESDEC is a private, not-for-profit educational organization with over 300 school districts as affiliates. Its mission is to help schools and their districts become high performance organizations.