Diana Lindsay: finalist candidate withdraws.WN photoOne day after meeting with Westport teachers, parents, and community members, Diana Lindsay, the finalist candidate for Staples High School principal, abruptly withdrew her candidacy for the position, Schools Superintendent Elliott Landon said today.
Lindsay, principal at Ridgefield High School, called him this afternoon to inform him of her decision, Landon said. He did not give a reason for her change of mind but said it followed an early morning meeting with Ridgefield school officials.
“It’s strange because she said on Monday that Ridgefield wasn’t right for her, then today she said Westport wasn’t right for her,” Landon said.
In an e-mail distributed to Ridgefield parents, Ridgefield Schools Superintendent Kenneth R. Freeston said: “Dr. Lindsay announced today that she is staying in Ridgefield and has declined the overtures of the Westport Public Schools to recruit her from Ridgefield to Westport.”
Lindsay, a Massachusetts native who had spent most of her teaching and administrative career in Ohio and Illinois, had met Monday with parents, teachers, and community members in meetings that began in the morning and continued Monday night.
A search committee had identified her as the finalist candidate to replace interim Principal John Dodig who has held the post for a year. Dodig has filled in for John Brady, the Staples principal who left for a superintendent’s job in another Connecticut district
Landon said Dodig, who had previously indicated his continued availability should the search not produce a candidate, would remain interim principal.
Nice quotation from Landon…..I am sure that it was necessary to reveal that Lindsay thought that her current position was not right for her. While obvious, as she was looking elsewhere, I am not sure that her town needs to have it shoved in their faces. I think that it was an inapropriate comment, but that is just me.
While “Ed” is taking exception to the comments made by Landon , what we need to understand is that our schools superintendent was reacting to his obvious state of confusion and shock since the candidate one day earlier allegedly said that Westport was the place for her, not Ridgefield. Landon was just pointing out the facts. If, in fact, she had made that comment, then she is responsible for whatever reprecussions she encounters. Should Ridgefield wish to retain her services ? That is a whole different question. Remember, she put herself on the market ! What is important for Westport is getting to the bottom of why she pulled an about face…..we need to know so that we can see if we can avoid it happening again. Or was it simply a case of her flaking out ? The community spent a lot of time and energy on this potential selection. Find out what happened. We all deserve that answer. Also, is the search firm at all responsible for Westport being caught by surprise here ? Is there some info. regarding the candidate that they neglected to share with the members of the Westport administration ?
Couldn’t agree more Tom!