Help BOE Find School Superintendent

The invites the Middletown community to participate in a focus group meeting Monday at 6:30 p.m. in the Central Office Conference Room A (311 Hunting Hill Avenue) to identify key qualifications that the community finds crucial to the success of the next superintendent of schools.

Cooperative Educational Services was selected by the Middletown Public Schools Board of Education to conduct comprehensive research from the community for a new superintendent of schools. Leadership at the superintendent level is now being provided by the appointed Interim Superintendent David Larson.

The C.E.S. Team provides boards of education in Connecticut with a comprehensive approach to hiring superintendent, assistant superintendents and central office staff in a cost effective manner. The full resources of the regional educational service center are devoted to finding qualified candidates for executive positions in public education.

“I’m very pleased to have one of the top search firms in Connecticut working with our School Board,” said Dr. Gene Nocera, Board of Education Chair. “Through the search process, I’m confident the Board will select an outstanding superintendent to lead our school district.”

Those individuals who are unable to make a focus group session or do not wish to attend are encouraged to complete a brief online survey that will also be considered to determine the professional experience, qualities and personal characteristics that are most important in the new Middletown Public Schools superintendent candidates.

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“Establishing a clear understanding of the community’s expectations of its next permanent superintendent is critical to the success of the district’s search and to the eventual success of the new superintendent,” stated James J. Ritchie, one of two lead consultants from CES.  “The data we collect will serve as a guide to the Board of Education, and will assist the new superintendent once he or she is appointed.”

The online survey will be available to the Middletown community on the district website from April 23 through midnight on May 2. The survey is anonymous, and all staff, students, parents and residents are encouraged to participate.

The data collected at the focus group sessions, along with the survey results, will be assessed by the C.E.S. Executive Search Team. A report profiling the skills and dispositions identified by the community will be prepared and shared with the district community. The data will serve as a guideline for superintendent candidates and will aid the Board in the recruitment, interview and decision-making process.

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