Scenes from today’s Staples High School retirement ceremony for Principal John Dodig. Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

In her Tuesday presentation at Staples, Somers was up front in recalling that 20 years ago “I made a mistake” involving a child left sleeping on a bus. She said she learned many lessons from the experience which made her a better teacher and administrator.

The Board of Education met with Somers in executive session late Tuesday and was expected to vote on Somer’s application at its June 1 meeting.

Landon said he will begin the search for an interim Staples principal.

Somers is the second finalist to pull an application for the job. Louis Moore of Franklin Lakes, N.J. withdrew following an interview with Staples parents in March. (See WestportNow March 17, 2015)

Somers, who was named middle school principal of the year this year, had prematurely announced a week ago that she had accepted the Staples job. (See WestportNow March 20, 2015)

She and Greenwich Superintendent of Schools William S. McKersie later apologized to Landon and the Westport community for jumping the gun.

In her meeting with Staples parents in the cafeteria on Tuesday morning, Somers faced a number of questions about how a middle school principal was prepared to head a high school.

She was candid in describing the incident at a daycare center she operated involving the child left sleeping on a bus. She said she did not do a second headcount.

While no harm came to the child, she was dogged by the incident and eventually closed down her daycare center.

Some Staples parents dug up that incident on Google, and one made further comments at Tuesday’s meeting, questioning whether Somers was forced to shut down, to which she and Landon said was untrue.

“She called me late last night, and she indicated she was withdrawing,” said Landon. “She didn’t give a specific reason.”

“We’re going to go out and get interim, someone who is retired,” said Landon, adding that he would not appoint an internal person as an interim.

“I’m going to go outside, and if anybody on the inside wants to apply they might as well,” he said.

He said that the interim position would be for one year, and that he hopes to have a person in place by the start of the fiscal year beginning July 1.

“We hope for July 1; we’ll do our best,” Landon said.

The Board of Education has been searching for a Staples principal since December when Principal John Dodig announced he would be retiring at the end of the school year. Dodig came to Staples in 2004, starting out as an interim principal.

—James Lomuscio contributed reporting.

“Twenty years ago I made a mistake,” she told the more than 100 parents assembled. “I didn’t do a second head count.

“It’s still very difficult to talk about this,” Somers added, noting that no harm came to the child.

Some Staples parents had learned about the incident via Google, and it had since made the rounds.

Somers continued that “vicious and malicious events” and accusations that followed made her, a mother of four concerned about the welfare of her own children, decide to close her center she had run for 11 years.

Members of the Board of Education were front row attendees at today’s session. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

The incident, she said, not only transformed her into a person who “dots my ‘i’s and crosses my ‘t’s, It also taught me humility.”

That sense of humility, Somers added, made her grow as an educator by listening more closely to students who felt marginalized by their own mistakes.

Several parents said they admired her candor and openness. But one woman, who had her eyes fixed on her i-phone, said that Google had suggested there was more, that her license had been taken away for five years and that she had been forced to shut down the center. Somers said that was untrue.

Schools Superintendent Elliott Landon jumped to Somers’ defense, saying that Greenwich school officials and their attorneys did their own research and “none of that is true, and it had no impact on her certification.”

Most parent’s questions, however, focused on the future and what Somers would bring to Staples.

“What did you do that had endeared you so much?” one mother asked about Somers being named Connecticut Middle School Principal of the year for 2014-15.

The Staples cafeteria was full for the meeting with Staples principal finalist Shelly Somers. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

“I set out to change the culture,” Somers replied, noting that she is a student advocate who changed programs or implemented new ones.

Regarding the common core curriculum, Somers said she supports it because it allows student to get beyond the facts to sort through information, “to scrutinize what they are reading.”

Somers also displayed that she is no proponent of standardized tests, saying they increase stress among young people. When one man asked if Somers thought it would be a good idea to incorporate an SAT prep course into the curriculum, she said no.

“I would hope that the course work would be preparation enough,” Somers said.

When asked about her vision for Staples, Somers said it was too early. She said she would have to explore it with students, parents, teachers and staff.

One father asked how being a middle school teacher would prepare her for a job as a high school principal.

“I’m an educator,” Somers responded. “I taught every grade, and I am prepared.”

Prior to joining Greenwich in 2010, Somers served as head of school of arts, communication and technology at Beaufort High School in Beaufort, S.C. from 2006 to 2009. She was also assistant principal of Hilton Head High School in Hilton head, S.C. from 2003 to 2005.

Somers was selected as the finalist’s for the Staples job following a six-month search started in December when current Principal John Dodig announced he would be retiring at the end of the school year.

Westport Schools Superintendent Elliott Landon was all smiles today as he introduced Shelly Somers, the finalist candidate to succeed John Dodig as Staples High School principal. Somers, principal of Greenwich’s Central Middle School, met with parents and members of the Staples community in the Staples cafeteria. Her appointment was announced prematurely last week by Greenwich school officials, who later apologized to Landon and the Westport community. (See WestportNow May 20, 2015) Dodig is retiring at the end of the school year after 11 years at Staples. (See WestportNow Dec. 1, 2014)  (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

Shelly Somers, principal of Greenwich’s Central Middle School who is the finalist candidate to succeed retiring Staples principal John Dodig, met with members of the Staples community today in the school cafeteria. Members of the Board of Education, who must approve her appointment, were in the front row. They will meet in a special executive session later today.  (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

The Westport Woman’s Club today presented college scholarships to eight Staples High School seniors and one adult in a ceremony held at the club’s home, 44 Imperial Ave. Posing with the recipients were Principal John Dodig (l) and First Selectman Jim Marpe (r ). They are (l-r), Chidi Chizor (University of Bridgeport), Michael Battone (West Virginia University), Gabriella Marone (Salve Regina University), Tracy Boyer (Southern Connecticut University), Alexis Iannacone (Bryant University), Alaina Washington (Western New England University), Shannon Cardoza (Quinnipiac University), Lauren Reedy (Rollins College), and Matthew Jawowleff (Northeastern University). Chizor, 22, is the recipient of the WWC Adult Woman Scholarship in memory of the late Gerry Munce.  The award was presented by Munce’s daughter, Mary Munce Brewster, a Redding resident. Chizor, who earned her B.S. in psychology from the University of Bridgeport and will earn her Masters in clinical mental health in class of 2016, is a staff member at Bridgeport-based Mercy Learning Center. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

By James Lomuscio

UPDATE: Published reports that Greenwich middle school principal Shelly Somers has accepted the offer as principal of Westport’s Staples High School are premature and Greenwich school officials have apologized, Westport Schools Superintendent Elliott Landon said today.

Shelly Somers: middle school principal of year. Contributed photo

While confirming that Somers, principal of Greenwich’s Central Middle School, is the finalist after a six-month search, no offer has been made, officials stressed.

According to a statement issued by Landon, “Greenwich has apologized to me and the Westport community for its error.”

Landon’s statement, however, does not seem to diminish his enthusiasm about Somers as a finalist.

“Both Ms. Somers and I are excited about the possibility that she may join our staff,” Landon said. “She is an accomplished leader in Greenwich who enjoys the respect and appreciation of teachers, students, parents and her administrative colleagues. Most recently she was named Connecticut PTA Middle School Principal of the Year.”

By James Lomuscio

After a nearly six-month, nationwide search for a new principal of Westport’s Staples High School, the search committee has narrowed the field to “one extraordinary candidate,” committee members said Monday in an email to parents.

Now, the finalist, who was not identified, will have to pass the parent test at a meeting scheduled for Tuesday, May 26, at 9 a.m. in the Staples cafeteria, school officials said.

Written feedback from Staples parents will be solicited and provided to the Board of Education before a final decision is made, the administration noted.

The search committee for the replacement of Principal John Dodig, who is retiring after 11 years at the helm, consisted of teachers, parents, students and administrators.

The Westport school system has scheduled screenings for preschool children “at risk for learning” for Friday, June 5, from 9 a.m. to noon at the Coleytown Elementary School (CMS) at 65 Easton Road, school officials announced today.

The screenings will identify preschool children “at risk” for learning as determined by federal and local Title I eligibility criteria, which looks at a child’s development in the areas of concepts, language, and motor, school officials said. The current Title I program is incorporated into the Westport preschool program, Stepping Stones Preschool.

To qualify for a child screening, expected to take 45 minutes, a parent must be a resident of Westport whose child will be three years old by September. Screenings are by appointment only.

School officials ask parents interested in setting up an appointment to contact Carol Haberlin at 203-341-1712. Those who have questions about Title I or would like to learn more about Stepping Stones Preschool are asked to contact Gwen Goldman at 203-341-1764.