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According to Board of Education Chairman Michael Lyons, no decision will be made on a new principal for the school until Rivera begins on July 18, and it could be days or weeks after that before a final decision is reached.
“I don't expect a decision until after Dr. Rivera takes office and he has a chance to weigh in,” said Lyons. The board approved Rivera as new superintendent on Tuesday.
The district has been looking for a new principal for Nathan Hale since Bob McCain left the school system in June 2012. He was the school’s principal for seven years and was replaced on an interim basis by Hugh McKiernan.
Nathan Hale parent Gloria Tenofsky, who is also executive director of the Norwalk Education Foundation, urged the board to wait until Rivera takes office to decide on a new principal, a request the board appears to have heeded.
“Going forward, many of us are concerned about finding the best principal for NHMS,” said Tenofsky during a board meeting this week. “We know how difficult it is to find someone who can hit the ground running and regain the footing we lost this year. We are requesting that the Board of Education defer this decision until the new superintendent begins.”
To help with the process, several parents and members of the school’s staff drafted a profile of what they would like in the next principal, according to Tenofsky. The criteria includes finding someone with middle school leadership experience who also has a “strong vision” for what the school can be, and the ability to make it happen.
In a job posting for the position, the district spelled out many of the qualifications required for consideration to the post.
“The knowledge and skills required would generally be acquired with a master's degree in education and 10 years of education experience, with a minimum of three years experience in school administration,” the district wrote. “Thorough knowledge of educational policies and practices at the middle school level. Considerable human relations skills to work effectively with school staff, central office staff, parents and students in a diverse environment. Ability to communicate clearly, orally and in writing, with a wide variety of groups. Considerable knowledge of middle school curricula with special emphasis in reading and mathematics. Experience in creating and implementing a program of staff development. Considerable administrative and supervisory ability in improving student performance, solving problems skillfully, group process, making decisions, establishing clear goals and high expectations and accomplishing tasks. Demonstrated application of current research and instructional strategies which include but are not limited to: cooperative learning, portfolio assessment, assertive discipline, teaming and interdisciplinary teaching.”
Additionally, the district would prefer candidates are also fluent in Spanish.
Lyons said the district has been working hard to find a principal for the school, which has about 600 students and 43 staff members.
“We have interviewed candidates and are looking at options ranging from hiring one of the current candidates or going with a continued interim situation,” said Lyons.
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