Survey Says: Region 13 Superintendent Should Have Teacher, Principal Experience

What do Durham and Middlefield residents want in a new superintendent of schools? 

Someone who has experience as a teacher or a principal with an advanced degree (beyond a Master's) and who is creating a "positive school and district culture for students, staff and parents." 

These are the results of an online survey conducted between Aug. 26 and Sept. 6 open to all residents, teachers, students and parents in the Region 13 school district.

A total of 234 residents took the survey, answering a series of questions and responding with their personal opinions on what they want to see in a new school chief. 

The district is in the process of finding a new superintendent since Susan Viccaro resigned in August to take a job in Massachusetts.

Durham-Middlefield Patch has uploaded the complete results above, which you can download. You can read the executive summary on the school district's website.

Board of Education Chairman Kerrie Flanagan released the following statement on the survey results:

"The RSD13 Board of Education (Superintendent Search Committee) appreciates the participation of students, teachers, staff, administrators, parents and citizens in the recent superintendent search focus group meetings and online survey. These data collection activities produced a wealth of useful information which has been compiled into a comprehensive report entitled Regional School District 13 Community Assessment Report. The report has been reviewed by the Search Committee and will be used as a framework for reviewing applications and formulating interview questions during the superintendent selection process.

"On behalf of the RSD13 Board of Education, I am inviting you to read the report prepared by the Cooperative Educational Services (C.E.S.) executive search consultants. You can access the report on the district website (www.rsd13ct.org) by clicking on the special link to the report that is posted on the homepage. Persons wishing to read a printed copy of the Executive Summary of the report will find a reading copy at the town halls and public libraries in Durham and Middlefield and at the senior activity center in Durham.

"Again, thank you for participating in this important phase of the superintendent search process and providing the committee specific guidelines that will be most helpful as we continue the search and move forward into the next phase of the process."