Daniel Hand High School Principal Barbara Britton will retire at the end of the 2012-2013 school year, school officials announced Monday afternoon.
The position has been posted and applications are being accepted through the month of February, school officials say.
Madison Public School Superintendent Thomas Scarice praised Britton as a consumate professional who will be missed.
Madison Board of Education Chairman Debra Frey thanked Britton for her many years of service to the school system.
Barbara’s retirement will leave a tremendous void to fill at Daniel Hand High School," Frey said. "On behalf of the Madison Board of Education, I want to thank her for her years of service and the contribution she has made to the Madison Public Schools. I wish her only the best as she departs the district and enters this well-deserved chapter in her life."
Here is the full release from the Madison Public School System:
Madison, CT – Daniel Hand High School Principal, Barbara Britton, has rendered her intent to retire at the end of the 2012-2013 school year. Mrs. Britton has been an integral part of the Daniel Hand High School staff since her arrival in August of 1990. She started her career with the Madison Public Schools as Science Coordinator at Daniel Hand High School. She took over a department of veteran teachers and immediately won their respect and cooperation. In four short years thereafter, her varied experience as a teacher, department head, curriculum writer and trainer of teachers, along with a style that encouraged support and cooperation, earned her the position of Assistant Principal in 1994. It was a natural progression to assume the role of Principal when the position became available in 2004. The impressive student achievement levels at Daniel Hand are the direct result of Mrs. Britton’s skilled administrative leadership, strategic instructional focus and effective professional collaboration among school staff. She will be missed.
Input from Superintendent
“This will be a big loss for the district. Barbara is the consummate professional. She brings so much to the position of principal. Her leadership, wisdom, and perhaps above all, her integrity, will leave a legacy for those that follow. I consider myself very fortunate to have worked with Barbara during my time in Madison.”
Input from BOE Chair
“Barbara’s retirement will leave a tremendous void to fill at Daniel Hand High School. On behalf of the Madison Board of Education, I want to thank her for her years of service and the contribution she has made to the Madison Public Schools. I wish her only the best as she departs the district and enters this well-deserved chapter in her life.”
The Daniel Hand High School Principal position has been posted. Applications are being received during the month of February. Interviews will be conducted during the month of March with the goal of naming a new principal sometime in the spring.
Let us know what you'd like to see in the next DHHS principal. What should administrators take into consideration when they make that hiring decision? Let us know in the comments below. Comments are being moderated.
Barbara, thanks for all you've done for the Madison School System and the kindness and enthusiasm you've shown to the students over the years. Dan, best of luck, if you are a candidate. I'm sure there are many strong candidates and Madison would be lucky to have you as a principal, if it's something you're interested in. And I'm sure you've both had plenty of experience dealing with cranky parents over the years (including me sometimes! oh boy ... remember that time ... oh, never mind ... ). Barbara I hope you have lots of great memories as well. Best of luck in your future endeavors.
The unremitting negativity and unsubstantiated attacks are being allowed because these people are public figures in our community. I do try to err on the side of leaving comments up rather than taking them down. I think the comments speak for themselves, in terms of their tone and whether they are valid. I'm sure, also, most school officials are used to this kind of thing on the part of parents who feel their child, rightly or wrongly, has been slighted. Sometimes administrators do mess up. And then there are the children in Madison who are coddled and whose parents make excuses for them, instead of making them own up to their mistakes. I've gotten a few emails about this comment thread. Here are some of those comments: "lacking credibility" "completely outrageous" and "totally disgusting." I bet if all of you were using your real full names instead of hiding like cowards behind fake names and first names only, the comments would be entirely different, much more civil, and much more credible. It's too bad, because this could have been a good conversation about what people want in the next principal.
I suggested that people refocus the conversation to a topic that might actually be useful. Grumbling and belly aching? Not useful. Talking about what you'd like to see in the person selected for the top spot at the high school? Useful. Giving very specific suggestions? Why, that would be fabulous.
DB