Michael Gordon: “We are lucky to be in Westport.” Contributed photo
The Westport Board of Education tonight elected Michael Gordon as its new chair.
He replaces Elaine Whitney, chairwoman for the past two years, who told the school board at its Nov. 10 meeting that she is stepping down to relaunch her career in healthcare strategy and policy. (See WestportNow Nov.11, 2014) She remains on the board and was elected secretary at tonight’s meeting.
Jeannie Smith, who joined the board in December 2012, was re-elected vice chair. She worked as a former public school teacher in Westchester County for 11 years.
Gordon, a public relations professional, was elected to the board in 2011. He previously served as secretary.
Gordon, at times pausing to control his emotions, praised Whitney’s work as chair and said she “continues to be one of Westport’s great public servants.”
He added: “She has guided us through difficult and sensitive periods with an unmatched wisdom, commitment, and graciousness, and all of us in Westport are better off for it.”
As for his new position, Gordon said, “This job is an honor. I fully expect to make mistakes, but I will work to keep this board focused on educational leadership, fiscal discipline, and kindness.”
He concluded: “We have serious and important work to do together but let us also be thankful. We are lucky to be in Westport. During our short time in this room, let us preserve the great work that came before us, and fulfill the promise of that clear mission for a new generation of graduates.”
Board member Mark Mathias nominated Gordon, who had served as special assistant on education policy for the Clinton Administration, for the chairmanship. He described Gordon as “fiscally savvy, and he puts the needs of the students first.”
He also noted that Gordon has demonstrated leadership and ability to work well with others as the CEO of Gordon Group, a strategic communications firm that was named one of the top 30 agencies for which to work in North America.
“He’s the person on the board who finds common ground on divergent issues,” Mathias said.
Smith, a Republican, seconded the nomination, calling Gordon, a Democrat, a man of “intelligence and integrity and extremely nonpartisan.”
“He cares deeply about the issues,” she said.
In accepting the chair, Gordon spelled out three tenets of his new role: educational leadership, fiscal discipline and the importance of teaching children to be kind to others while demanding respect for themselves.
The aims of his leadership philosophy, he said, were to teach children to reach their potential, to become critical thinkers “and kind citizens.”
In seconding the nomination of Whitney to take the reins as secretary, Smith noted that Whitney will remain Westport’s voice on the state level as vice president of professional development for the Connecticut Association of Boards of Education (CABE).
First Selectman Jim Marpe, who had previously served as school board vice chairman and acting chairman, congratulated the board’s new officers, saying, “I’ve had the privilege of working with all the new officials.”
“You were in good hands with Elaine, and you will be in great hands with Mike Gordon going forward, good and great being interchangeable,” said Marpe.
—James Lomuscio contributed reporting.
