Outgoing Shelton Superintendent's New Job Announced

SHELTON, CT — Outgoing Superintendent Chris Clouet has taken a job with the state Department of Education. He will serve as a special adviser to the commissioner.

Clouet starts his new job March 2, according to a statement from the state Department of Education.

“Dr. Clouet’s vast experience and interest in advancing the goals of the agency will support our ability to be responsive to districts as we work to continuously improve public education in the State of Connecticut," said Commissioner Miguel Cardona. "He is a welcome addition to an already powerful and committed team at our agency.”

Clouet's new role will be to provide technical support to promote operational efficiency and district health. Clouet started his career in education in Bridgeport Public Schools. He has also been a superintendent in Westchester county, New London and Thomaston.

His announcement that he would leave the district in the middle of budget season came as a surprise to town officials.

Beth Smith has been named interim superintendent while the Board of Education searches for a permanent replacement. She was the principal at Shelton High School and most recently was in charge of special education and pupil services for the district.

Clouet has guided the school system through a few controversies lately. A group of Shelton Intermediate School students were kicked out of the Smithsonian National Museum of African History after a white student spit on a black visitor. SIS also had another incident where a student wore blackface and posted a racial slur on Snapchat.

Smith and Assistant Principal John Skerritt were placed on leave amid an investigation into the handling of an alleged sexual assault that involved two students. She was reassigned to be supervisor of special education and later settled with the Board of Education after she argued the move was a de-facto demotion. Skerritt was assigned as an assistant principal at Shelton Intermediate School.

Clouet's relationship with Mayor Mark Lauretti hasn't always been smooth sailing. Lauretti criticized Clouet's handling of the Smith/Skerritt probe. The Board of Education was sued by the city over school busing, but the matter was eventually settled and the city now runs bus service for the district.