Greenwich School Principal Won't Be Coming to Staples

Greenwich middle school principal Shelley Somers has withdrawn her name as finalist for the principalship of Staples High School in Westport.

Somers had spent Tuesday meeting with the Staples community in what amounted to a public interview of the lone finalist for the job that is to be vacated when Principal John Dodig retires at the end of the school year after 11 years at the school’s helm.

Greenwich School Superintendent William McKersie issued this memo to Greenwich Public Schools staff:

As you may have heard, Shelley Somers has withdrawn her name from consideration as Principal of Staples High School in Westport.

While we know that this was a difficult decision for Shelley, we are pleased that she will remain in Greenwich as Principal of Central Middle School.

The pending appointment of Somers was not without controversy.

On Tuesday evening, May 19, Greenwich Public Schools announced that Somers resigned from Central Middle School where she has been principal since 2009, because she accepted the Staples position.

Hours later, on Wednesday morning, May 20, Westport School Superintendent Elliott Landon said that Greenwich Public Schools prematurely made the announcement. McKersie apologized for what Landon said was “embarrassing for us and ... embarrassing for Shelley Somers.”

Since Somers was the only finalist for the job, it appears that Westport will have to renew its search for a new administrator.

Photo: Shelley Somers. Credit: Greenwich Public Schools.