A Message from the Interim Superintendent

As you know, Dr. Golden completed her service as Superintendent as of December 31.  The East Hampton Board of Education appointed me as the Interim Superintendent of Schools until your new Superintendent begins service.

The purpose of this communication is to provide you with some background information to assit you in getting to know me.

I retired in 2009 after 35 years in education after serving the last few years as the Superintendent of Schools in Bolton.

Coming to work in East Hampton marks the fifth time I am coming out of retirement to serve as an Interim Superintendent of Schools.  I have served in that position in Granby, Berlin, Watertown and most recently (February through June 2012) in Rocky Hill.

Additionally, I am in my 16th year of serving as an adjunct instructor at the Griswold campus of Sacred Heart University.  I teach two post graduate courses to teachers who wish to earn their credential to become administrators.

The role of the Interim Superintendent is not to bring in new ideas or to institute change, but rather to provide continuity for all existing programs and services until a new superintendent begins service.  I often describe it this way:  imagine a person grasping onto the hand of the former superintendent while the other hand is outstretched waiting for the new superintendent.

As I say when I come into a district as an Interim, "I know both the role and functions of the superintendency, but need to learn the culture of the individual school system in order to execute those most efficiently and effectively".

I know that there are two major items which will initially require my focus:  1) the 2013-2014 budget and 2) the high school "renovate as new" project.   I have had experience in budgeting in a number of districts, but I also come with experience in working on "renovate as new" high school building projects in three other districts (Region #19-E.O. Smith High School, Bolton and Rocky Hill).

I am uncertain as to how long my tenure among you will be.  That will depend upon when your new superintendent begins service which will be sometime within the next months.  Until that time, please know that I am here to work cooperatively with the Board of Education and the faculty, staff and administration in continuing the fine work which is being done in order to move the district forward.

I look forward to my time in East Hampton.  May it be a prosperous one for everyone associated with the East Hampton Schools (and one without any inclement weather!!!!!)

Mark L. Winzler
Interim Superintendent of Schools