Windsor Locks Schools Hire Superintendent

WINDSOR LOCKS, CT - Shawn Parkhurst, currently the assistant superintendent for Cheshire Public Schools, has been hired to become superintendent of the Windsor Locks Public Schools. According to a statement from the district, Parkhurst comes to Windsor Locks with a wealth of experience as a teacher, principal and assistant superintendent.

Parkhurst replaces Superintendent Susan Bell, who retired in June after leading the district since 2014.

Before taking his current position in Cheshire, Parkhurst was assistant superintendent in Wallingford from 2013-17. He has also served an elementary school principal in North Branford, Clinton, Groton, and Westerly, R.I.

He started his education career by teaching elementary school in Vermont from 1988-97, followed by three years teaching in Japan.

In 2010, Parkhurst was nominated for National Distinguished Principal of the Year in 2010.

"It is with great pride that I, on behalf of the members of the Board of Education, announce the appointment of Mr. Shawn Parkhurst as our new Superintendent of Windsor Locks Public Schools,” Patricia King, chairwoman of the Board of Education and Superintendent Search Committee, said in a statement. “Through the selection process we learned of Mr. Parkhurst's leadership, management style, professionalism and personality which will serve the district, students, administrators, teachers and staff, parents and all stakeholders in a participative environment to enhance our goals."

Parkhurst says he is “eager to continue the momentum that has been paved by the incredible work of the staff and administration of Windsor Locks. I look forward to building relationships that continue the culture that is articulated in one of the goals of the district: building a network of caring adults.”

The search for the new superintendent was facilitated by consultants from Cooperative Educational Services (C.E.S.) in Trumbull. After meeting with focus groups and conducting an online survey that included 360 participants, the C.E.S. consultants created a leadership profile based on the community’s desired characteristics for the next superintendent. Parkhurst was chosen from a pool of 13 applicants.

Information and image via Windsor Locks Public Schools