By James Lomuscio
With warm wishes from an array of town and school officials, as well as parents, Weston Schools Superintendent Colleen Palmer tonight was officially appointed Westport’s new schools superintendent effective July 1.
Collen Palmer receives applause tonight following her appointment as new Westport superintendent. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com
Her move just one town over for the $285,000 salaried position followed a seven-month long, nationwide search to replace Schools Superintendent Elliott Landon, who is retiring after 17 years at the end of June.
“Tonight is a great night for the Westport schools,” Michael Gordon, school board chairman, said at the meeting’s outset prior to the unanimous vote for Palmer.
Gordon also gave a nod to Landon, saying, “the reason the bar is so high is because of the success of our students under your leadership.”
Calling the hiring of a schools superintendent “the most important job of a Board of Education,” Gordon described Palmer, 61, as a great communicator and innovator in 21st century skills.
He said she is an educator who puts the needs of children first, and someone who “will take our highly acclaimed school district and build on that for future generations.”
Palmer, who became superintendent in Weston in 2011, in November was named superintendent of the year by the Connecticut Association of Public School Superintendents.
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.
“I love education,” Palmer said. “I have always loved being an educator, from being a teacher, a guidance counselor, a principal, an assistant superintendent and a superintendent. In each of those roles you can positively influence the lives of children. I love my work.
“Westport indeed is a very special place,” she added.
Joining her at the celebratory appointment followed by a reception with food and pastries in the Staples High School cafeteria were her two of her three grown sons, Rich and Brian Bozzuto, who made the trip from the Boston area. Her son Dan in Washington. D.C. was unable to attend.
“I don’t think you could go to another appointment of a superintendent and be this welcome,” Palmer said shortly after she stepped to the podium.
Wishes and praise came from a variety of individuals who had spent five hours on a site visit to the Weston Public Schools on Monday.
Among the 20 who had gone on the site visit were school board members, First Selectman Jim Marpe, Brian Stern, chairman of the Board of Finance; Velma Heller, a former educator and member of the Representative Town Meeting, and PTA co-presidents.
“I do not know Colleen, but I do know that she built an impressive team,” Stern said about her work in Weston. ” …Tonight is a great night for Westport and the future of our kids.
“And welcome to the Board of Finance,” he quipped, following up on school board Vice Chairwoman Jeannie Smith’s comment that Palmer attends all Board of Finance meetings in Weston even if the school system is not on the agenda.
Before the meeting started, Palmer said she was drawn to Westport because of its reputation for preparing students for the 21st century and being on the cutting edge of innovation.
“There is a solid foundation of success here, and I look forward to working with the administration, the teachers, the parents and the students to bringing this district to the next level,” she said.
