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Kolek: New Canaanites ‘Will Do Anything’ To Benefit Their Children

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Town officials on Tuesday roundly praised the work and accomplishments of New Canaan Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Mary Kolek in the wake of an unexpected announcement that the longtime educator would retire at the end of this academic year. While First Selectman Rob Mallozzi said he personally was saddened by the news and that it’s difficult to measure the full impact that Kolek has had on the district, Board of Ed Chair Hazel Hobbs called her a “leader, visionary and motivator.”

Kolek, who has been working in New Canaan’s school system for a full decade, the last two as superintendent, told NewCanaanite.com in an interview that she has forged deep bonds with teachers, parents and town officials who share two major priorities: children and learning. “The bond has to do with the fact that this community cares so deeply about their children, no matter whether it’s a parent or a grandparent or the people that own the stores in town or the town bodies—that’s a shared value,” Kolek said. “People have a deep respect for education and educators, and as an educator I appreciate that,” she added. “It’s easy to connect through those shared values, and we’ve done a lot of work together.”

With the town’s support, Kolek said, important programs were introduced, including full-day kindergarten, World Languages and an evolution of the curriculum.

News

Mallozzi on Kolek: ‘Positive and Lasting Impact on Our Schools’

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New Canaan First Selectman Rob Mallozzi on Tuesday issued the following statement in response to the news that Dr. Mary Kolek, superintendent of schools, would retire following this academic year:

“I received a call earlier this morning from Superintendent of Schools Dr. Mary Kolek letting me know about her pending retirement. “I was quite surprised by her decision and selfishly expressed my personal sadness about her leaving. I also conveyed the magnitude her absence would bring to our community. Mary has had such a positive and lasting impact on our schools, children, teachers and the entire Town over these past ten years; it’s hard to imagine her not being central to the further success and achievements of our schools. I have worked closely with Mary over the past three years and will truly miss this special person.

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BOE Chair on Retiring Superintendent: ‘Leader, Visionary, Motivator’

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New Canaan Board of Education Chair Hazel Hobbs issued this statement following Superintendent of Schools Dr. Mary Kolek’s decision to retire effective June 30, 2014. Kolek made her decision public on Tuesday. “On behalf of the Board, I want to thank Mary Kolek for her ten years leading the district’s efforts to create a 21st Century educational program that prepares our students to be scholars, leaders, and global citizens. While she has been Superintendent and Deputy Superintendent here, New Canaan has benefitted from Dr. Kolek’s keen intellect, high energy level, strong commitment, and deep knowledge of the field of education. She is a leader, visionary, motivator, and accomplished professional.

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New Canaan Superintendent of Schools Kolek To Retire

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Update 2:20 p.m.

Just in from the district’s public information and communications specialist:

New Canaan Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Mary Kolek Announces Her Decision to Retire

New Canaan, Connecticut – March 11, 2014 – Dr. Mary Monroe Kolek, Superintendent of the New Canaan Public Schools, has announced her retirement effective June 30, 2014. Following is Dr. Kolek’s letter, which was presented to the Board of Education. Dear Mrs. Hobbs,

After much deliberation and extended discussions with family, my husband and I have decided to relocate to North Carolina and, as a consequence, after 38 years as a CT public educator, with the last 10 spent in the proud service of the New Canaan community, first as Deputy Superintendent and currently as Superintendent, I plan to retire effective June 30, 2014. As you might imagine, the decision to transition from a career and community that I love and to which I am deeply committed has been difficult. It has, however, been made easier because of my understanding that the New Canaan Public Schools is, by design, a system; one whose strength lies not in any few individuals but in the collective power generated and sustained by a culture and set of structures and processes that reflect a long standing commitment to excellence, dedication to service and an abiding respect for learners and learning as the community’s most valuable asset and key strategy for success. I will always be grateful for having had the opportunity to work with and for some of the finest human beings ever amassed under the umbrella of any district, including Board members, educators, staff members, students and volunteers.