UPDATE Colleen Palmer, superintendent of schools in Weston, is the finalist candidate to replace Elliott Landon as Westport’s superintendent of schools, the Westport Board of Education announced today.
Colleen Palmer: in Weston since 2011. Contributed photo
It said it expected to make appointment in January. Landon is retiring in June after 17 years in the post.
Palmer, 61, named last month superintendent of the year by the Connecticut Association of Public School Superintendents, became superintendent in Weston in 2011.
Following the Westport announcement, the Weston Board of Education issued a statement congratulating Palmer on being named the Westport finalist. It said her departure “will be a great loss” for Weston and that it is launching a search for her successor.
Prior to Weston, Palmer served three years as superintendent of Monroe Public Schools and four years as deputy executive director of the Capitol Region Education Council. She is the former principal of Simsbury High School, Hamden High School and Nonnewaug High School.
An announcement said the Westport board narrowed “a very strong field of superintendent candidates to one finalist.” It added: “As is a common practice in superintendent searches, the Board of Education announces the finalist in order to plan a site visit with the selected candidate.
“At the site visit, members of the board and other school officials will meet in small groups with selected school officials, staff and parents in Weston.
“The appointment of Dr. Palmer also will be subject to a third party independent background check and the finalization of contract terms. The board is confident in its selection and fully expects the rest of the process to go smoothly.”
Palmer’s career in education began in the classroom as a high school math teacher, the announcement said.
She has a doctorate in educational administration from the University of Connecticut. She also received a certificate in executive leadership from UConn and a master’s degree in K-12 counseling from Southern Connecticut State University.
Her undergraduate degree in mathematics education is from the University of Connecticut.
When she was named superintendent of the year, the announcement cited her as playing “a critical role in ensuing students are developing the 21st century skills that will prepare them for success in college and in the workforce.
“She has implemented a systematic approach to blended and personalized learning, as well as provided oversight for a partnership with Columbia University, Teachers College, designed to provide students with a global framework for readiness and achievement.”
Palmer was chosen from among numerous applicants who were considered and interviewed by the board, the announcement said.
“We interviewed highly acclaimed candidates from different states, and Dr. Palmer was the clear choice to take our already-thriving school district and build on that success for the next generation of Westport students,” said Board Chair Michael Gordon.
“She is a visionary academic leader who will bring an unwavering focus to our mission of reaching the potential of each child. We are thrilled that she wants to bring her tremendous skill set and experience to Westport.”
To help conduct the search for a new superintendent, the board hired Hazard, Young, Attea & Associates, a national educational search firm.
Three HYA consultants, John Chambers, Deborah Raizes and Gary Richards, met with members of the staff and community to develop the criteria that guided the search, the announcement said. National advertising and recruitment were conducted.
Applications were received from a broad range of states, including California, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York and Utah, it said.
The board conducted interviews with four semifinalists, narrowed the field, and then interviewed finalists before deciding upon Palmer, the announcement said.
