Superintendent Landers' Farewell: Students Must Remain the Focus

At the last School Committee meeting before she leaves the Wakefield School District next week, Superintendent Joan Landers thanked teachers, administrators and parents, and made one point clear: The students have to remain the focus in Wakefield. 

"It's not about a superintendent's agenda, it's not about the school committee's agenda, it's about those children, some who I've known since they were three years old -- always remember them when you're making decisions," she said. "That needs to be the agenda and it needs to be the focus for education in Wakefield." 

Landers as Superintendent of the North Middlesex Regional School District. She starts there on August 1st. 

A heartfelt goodbye
School Committee members thanked Landers for her service to Wakefield in front of a small crowd of supporters, including all the principals from the Wakefield elementary, middle and high schools.

Vice Chairman Anne Danehy said Landers was one of the kindest people she's ever met.

"I think you’ve always done it for the students, and that shows with your committment to the community and not only being invested in the community but being an intergral part of the community," said Danehy. "That's incredible leadership and you've been able to bring Wakefield forward."

Landers thanked her administrative team, "We're a team and we're all in this together," she said, and among others, thanked Tom Stapleton from WCAT, Susan Majeski, Steve Maio, current and past school committee members, students and parents.

"The parents in the community have been wonderful to me," she said.

Landers said everyone working in the Wakefield Public School System should be honored to serve the children here. 

"There’s been some rocky times, some days that I didn’t know if it’d make it through, but I did make it through and I hope you continue seeing those children's faces when you’re making decisions," she told the school committee.

Landers was also given a special goodbye from several of her special education students who she worked with as director of special education in Wakefield.

"I’m honored and humbled that I was given this opportunity," a tearful Landers said. "This has been a special experience in my life and I will always remember the students."