January 20, 2017
Dear Members of the Fishers Island Community:
I’m writing to inform you that my role at Fishers Island School (FIS) will be changing next school year. Beginning July 1st, I will be solely serving as the district’s part-time Superintendent. The Board of Education will be conducting a national search for a new principal and has hired an exemplary search consultant, Dr. Mary Broderick of the CT Association of Boards of Education (CABE). I have worked with Mary in the past and know that we could not have found a better individual to help us hire a dynamic and highly effective new principal for our remarkable students and school community. I am thrilled that I’ll be able to remain involved by working with the Board to manage the business and policy aspects of the district to allow the new principal to focus on getting to know our students, staff, families and community. I also look forward to working closely with the new principal to support his/her transition to the school and island.
My five years at the helm of Fishers Island School has been the highlight of my career, which made the decision to retire an especially difficult one. I love my job, but now need to be able to spend more time with my husband, aging parents, children and six grandchildren.
Because FIS is such a special school I am certain that we will attract a superb new principal. Dr. Broderick will be coming to Fishers Island on Thursday, February 23 (new date), to meet with the Board and then separately with students, staff, parents and community members to seek input regarding the criteria the Board should use to select our next school leader (see attached details). She will also conduct an online survey for those individuals who may not be able to meet with her.
Rob and I love living on Fishers Island and hope to forever maintain our connection here. We appreciate the strong support and friendship we’ve experienced and look forward to spending time on our sailboat in West Harbor during the warmer months.
I deeply appreciate that I can continue to work in partnership with you to support the success of our students and am excited to remain actively involved in the island’s many nonprofit groups.
With respect and gratitude,
Karen Loiselle Goodwin
The Fishers Island Board of Education invites the Fishers Island community to participate in the search process for a new Principal. We are pleased Principal/Superintendent Karen Goodwin will be transitioning next school year to the role of part-time Superintendent.
On Thursday, February 23 (new date), Mary Broderick, CABE Search Services consultant working with the Fishers Island Board of Education, will conduct a series of focus groups to hear from the community on the qualities, experiences, and characteristics desired in a new leader. Town officials, staff, parents, students, and community members are encouraged to participate in focus groups. The 30-minute session for FI parents and interested community members will begin promptly at 4:00-4:30 in the School’s band room. (CT parents will meet the same day at 5:35-6:05 at the NL ferry office second floor.)
All are also welcome to participate in a survey to help clarify the qualities and characteristics desired in our next Principal. Please find the survey link on the Fishers Island School website (www.fischool.com) or at the button below. The survey will be open from February 2nd– February 24th.
“We are hoping to get the thinking of the entire community to help us in this important process,” Jamie Doucette, president of the Fishers Island Board of Education, stated. “We invite and encourage everyone to participate.”
Feedback from the focus groups and survey will be incorporated into a leadership profile that will help to identify candidates who best fit the needs of the Fishers Island School and community. The Board anticipates a start date for the principal to be July 2017.
“We have developed a sound process and hired an exemplary search consultant to help us identify a high-quality leader for our school,” Karen Goodwin added. “We are looking forward to attracting a talented pool of candidates from which to select our new leader. I am thrilled that I will be able to continue to serve the Fishers Island School community and to support our next school principal.”
The Fishers Island School Board of Education
Jamie Doucette, President
Laurie Finan, Vice-President
William Bloethe
Linda Mrowka
Tom Shillo
