Michael Gordon: “We are generally pleased with candidates.” Contributed photo
The Westport Board of Education recently began interviewing candidates to replace Schools Superintendent Elliott Landon who is retiring in June, the board announced today.
“The interview phase of the superintendent search is a several-step process that allows the board to get to know the candidates well,” said Michael Gordon, school board chairman. “We are generally pleased with the pool of candidates recommended by our search consultant.”
The school board contracted national search firm Hazard, Attea & Young (HYA) in the spring after Landon announced he would be retiring following 17 years at the helm.
To discern the kind of superintendent the town sought to fill Landon’s shoes, HYA surveyed almost 700 participants, plus held public sessions and two dozen focus groups with school board members, administrators, town officials, teachers, support staff and parents.
The result was a profile listing the qualifications the town wanted in a candidate. Topping the list was someone who is a good communicator with “well refined writing and speaking skills.”
“Timely and effective communication concerning budget, facilities projects, program initiatives, emerging trends and critical issues facing the Westport Public Schools are essential,” the profile stated.
“Superintendents spend a great deal of their professional lives marketing budgets, proposing new initiatives, sharing the good news about the accomplishments of students and staff, and need excellent communication skills –- including social media savvy –- to succeed.
“Equally important are listening skills, hearing and responding to a wide range of constituents, emerging issues and incidents,” it added.
Now the board’s job as it nears a final selection from the pool of candidates is to conduct reference and background checks “and complete a site visit with the finalist,” Gordon said.
“After the new superintendent is selected, the BoE will assist with transition planning and set goals with the new superintendent,” Gordon said.
—James Lomuscio
