District 219 Hires Connecticut Superintendent of the Year

SKOKIE, IL — The next superintendent of Niles Township High School District 219 will join the district after working in Connecticut schools for more than a quarter-century.

Thomas Moore, superintendent of West Hartford Public Schools and the 2022 Connecticut Superintendent of the Year, will take the reins in District 219 in July following the retirement of Superintendent Steven Isoye.

There were 34 applicants for the position, according to an announcement prepared by Hazard, Young, Attea & Associates, the executive search firm hired by the district. Moore was one of 11 candidates from out of state.

“I am thrilled that Tom chose us," Board President Naema Abraham said in the statement. "I am confident his demonstrated leadership skills and passion to serve all students will guide his success at District 219.”

Moore started his teaching career as a history and social studies teacher in West Hartford in 1996. He became department supervisor in 2005, a high school principal in 2007, an assistant superintendent in 2010 and district superintendent in 2014.

“Truthfully, I never imagined leaving West Hartford, and never had applied anywhere else," Moore said in the announcement. "When I learned about District 219, however, and was told about the community, and how much I would love the students and families there, I became intrigued."

Moore's West Hartford district includes 9,400 students, 1,700 employees and 17 school sites. The search firm described it as a "diverse community that values education" and noted that there are 76 different languages spoken at home in the district.

"It takes a very special place for me to leave New England behind, but my family is so excited to begin this next challenge with all of you," he said. "I am passionate about what we owe our future generations in this country, and I will work tirelessly so that District 219 will always be an example of what is right, and what is possible, in American public education.”

Moore, who currently serves as vice-chair for the College Board of Trustees, is the son of a plumber and the youngest of seven children, according to the search firm. He has two children who currently attend college and a wife, who currently teaches kindergarten and will relocate to the Chicago area with him this summer.

Isoye, the outgoing superintendent, joined District 219 from Oak Park-River Forest School District 200 in 2016. According to district compensation reports, he retires with a base salary of about $260,600, plus over $8,000 in annuities, nearly $26,600 in retirement enhancements and more than $30,000 in other benefits.

Moore's base salary in West Hartford is less than $216,000, plus $19,000 in deferred compensation, according to his expiring contract. The hiring announcement released by the district did not include any information about Moore's new contract or compensation. Patch has requested a copy of the contract as approved by the board at Thursday's special meeting and will provide an update with its contents.

Update: Moore's three-year contract provides for an annual salary of $297,000, with salary increases in future years to be determined by the board. The contract also calls for the board to provide $20,000 for relocation expenses, a $750-a-month car allowance and an annual matching deferred compensation contribution of up to $10,000, among other benefits.