Search Begins For New Stratford Superintendent

STRATFORD, CT — Stratford’s school board has begun the process of finding its next superintendent and has chosen Cooperative Educational Services to conduct the search.

The new superintendent will replace Janet Robinson, who announced in September that she would retire in June after leading the district since 2013. Board of Education Chair Allison DelBene is heading the search committee. Robinson's replacement is expected to be selected by April and begin work by July 1, according to a news release from Cooperative Educational Services.

“CES is a Trumbull-based organization that provides support and services to school districts and communities in Fairfield County, in addition to operating two magnet schools,” the news release said. “Its Executive Searches division has located qualified candidates to fill superintendent, principal and other school administrative positions for districts and schools throughout Connecticut.”

Cooperative Educational Services has begun to reach out to candidates in the Northeast and nationwide, as well as post the job opening on education and employment websites, and share it through professional networks and superintendent preparation programs in Connecticut.

The Executive Searches team will hold focus group meetings and conduct an online survey in January to get community input and identify desirable leadership characteristics. Dates and sites have yet to be announced for the focus group sessions, which will be held with students, parents, school staff, town boards and Stratford residents. The online survey will be open to town residents and school community members, and will be accessible on the district’s website.

Robinson's retirement will align with the expiration of her contract, which was extended by two years in 2019. Tensions between Robinson and the school board have sometimes been apparent in recent months.

In May, the board issued Robinson a reprimand letter, which said Robinson communicated poorly and gave board members misinformation. Board members also questioned Robinson's honesty and transparency at a meeting in early September.