East Hampton Memorial School Principal is Leaving

Dr. Karen Fitzsimmons, principal at Memorial Elementary School in East Hampton since 2002, is leaving to take a job in West Hartford.

Fitzsimmons will be the new principal of Duffy Elementary School in West Hartford, according to that district's Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Karen List. List announced the hiring today, April 2. The change takes effect July 1.

Memorial school is a Pre-K through grade 3 school with 630 students and 103 staff members, List said. Staff and parents at Duffy worked collaboratively to develop a leadership profile for the school, defining the leadership qualities, characteristics, and traits that the school community desired in the next principal.

According to Executive Director of Employee Services Rick Ledwith, a total of 57 applications were received for the Duffy position. The first round of interviews was conducted by a committee chaired by Wolcott Elementary School Principal Dr. Plato Karafelis, and included staff members Marilyn Holcomb, Sheila Levanti, Hannah Shapiro, Elona Judd, and parents Jennifer Majewski (PTO president) and Amy Boultbee Mackinnon (PTO first vice-president).

 According to List, subcommittee of the original interview committee observed Fitzsimmons at her current school, and at the same time did a firsthand check of her references.

"At the end of the reference verifications and the site visit, it was clear that we had a candidate who would serve all of the needs of the children, faculty, and families of Duffy," List wrote in a letter to the community. "You clearly knew the needs of Duffy, and in the end the process identified the person who will serve the school well," wrote List.

According to List's letter, Fitzsimmons previously worked as principal of Dunbar Hill Accelerated School in Hamden. She also served as a math specialist for the Danbury Schools and began her career as a teacher of grades 3, 4 and 6th grade math in East Hampton.

She received her BS and MS from Eastern Connecticut State University, 6th year in Educational Leadership from Southern Connecticut State University and Doctorate from Nova Southeastern University, FL.

"She is focused first and foremost on the children and is described as fair, warm, genuine, a listener, strong work ethic, able to take a really big school and make it feel small, welcoming to parents, excellent communication skills, decisive, approachable, very visible, creates a positive school climate, and a leader among leaders," List wrote.

He said the PTO will plan to host an opportunity to families to meet Fitzsimmons this spring, prior to the end of the school year.

"Dr. Fitzsimmons’ experience, collaborative style, flexibility, high expectations, open door policy and genuine love of children make her an excellent match for Duffy School. She will be a wonderful addition to our team with her drive for continuous improvement and life-long learning," List wrote.

Current Duffy Principal Kathleen Tracy announced in late July 2012 that she would resign as principal at the end of the 2012-2013 school year. A group of current and former parents at Duffy presented the Board of Education with a petition expressing a vote of no confidence in her leadership earlier in the summer. Former Conard Principal Chuck Landroche has been working alongside Tracy at Duffy since the fall.

Tracy plans to remain with the West Hartford Public Schools in some capacity following her departure from Duffy.