Editorial Staff.
In an email on the morning of July 16, 2019, Superintendent Howard Thiery announced his resignation from Regional School District #17:
July 16, 2019
To: RSD 17 Community Members
Good Morning RSD 17 Community Members,
I am writing to inform you that I will be leaving RSD 17. Last night I was appointed the next Superintendent of Regional School District 10 by their Board of Education. My start date is still being determined at this time.
During my time here in RSD 17 I have had the privilege of working with a wonderfully talented and deeply committed staff, faculty, leadership team, and Board of Education. Over the last nine years we have worked together to bring programs, systems and structures forward that have made our school district widely recognized and honored for its work, achievement and depth of caring for our children. I am very proud of the work we have accomplished together and deeply grateful to have had the opportunity to be part of the Haddam Killingworth community for these many years.
The Region 17 Schools are vibrant and caring learning communities and I am certain that there is a bright future for the District. The RSD 17 Board of Education will communicate with you later today about their next steps in the process to find a new Superintendent of Schools.
Best Regards,
Howard Thiery
Superintendent of Schools RSD 17
This email was followed by an email from the Board of Education Chairperson, Joanne Nesti:
TO: RSD 17 Community Members
RE: Resignation of Superintendent
With gratitude for his years of dedicated service to Regional School District 17, the Board of Education has accepted the resignation of Howard Thiery as Superintendent of Schools. Throughout his nine years of leadership, Mr. Thiery has brought intelligence, strength and a wide array of skills to his work. In doing so, he has brought District 17 to higher levels of achievement and recognition as one of Connecticut’s best school systems. He leaves his successor a solid foundation upon which to build and grow, thanks to the capable and committed team of administrators he has brought to the District, and the guidance he has given them in their important work for the students of our two communities. Howard Thiery leaves us an academically stronger school district than the one he first joined nine years ago. We will always be grateful for that accomplishment.
The Board of Education now takes up the task of finding new leadership for our District and I want to assure the people of our two communities, our municipal leaders and our District employees that the selection of a Superintendent is the most important aspect of Board membership and one that every member takes seriously. We are committed to working thoughtfully and expeditiously to give the people of Haddam and Killingworth a Superintendent and a school district of which they can continue to be proud.
Sincerely,
Joanne Nesti
RSD 17 Board Chair
Howard Thiery came to Haddam Killingworth in April of 2011, after Superintendent Gary Mala announced he was resigning to become the Superintendent of Avon schools after seven years with Haddam Killingworth. During his tenure here, HKMS was named a state School of Distinction in 2012 and 2013, Burr Elementary School has been a School of Distinction since 2013, and Haddam Elementary School has been a School of Distinction since 2015. HKHS has been a National Advanced Placement Honor Roll School five times, a Newsweek Top High School in the Country four times, and a National Blue Ribbon School since Mr. Thiery began in Haddam Killingworth. He has been a strong advocate of college level courses. When he began here, our high school had 10 classes for college credit (with approximate enrollment of 110 students). Now there are 28 courses for college credit with enrollment of over 400 students. There have been many innovative programs put in place during Mr. Thiery’s tenure:
- Columbia Readers/Writers Workshop
- Expansion of the Project Lead the Way Engineering and STEM program at HKHS, as well as expansion into the elementary and middle levels
- New Elementary and Middle School math curriculum
- New World Language program in grades 5-8 that is already seeing students enter the high school at advanced levels
- Blended Learning classes at HKHS
- Maker Spaces in the elementary and middle school
- Elementary Select Chorus Program
- High School attendance at the National Digital Video Production Competition
- High School Varsity Boys Lacrosse team
- High School Shoreline Math Challenge hosted at HKHS
When asked what he was most proud of during his tenure here, Mr. Thiery said, “I am most proud of having worked with an extremely talented and committed faculty and leadership team to raise the aspirations of all of our schools and programs, as well as developing a commitment to continuous improvement that will always be seeking new, innovative, and more effective educational methods and programs for students.” Though he achieved a lot during his time here at Haddam Killingworth, and raised the bar on expectations in our schools, he does have one regret: “I regret that I will not be present to see some of the very innovative programs that are just beginning to reach their full potential. In particular, the Blended Learning Program at the high school that combined traditional course and online learning will offer a great deal of opportunity for students at the high school to personalize their learning.”
He hopes that the school and the community “continues to seek excellence and never become satisfied with what exists because our students will always deserve our full effort to aspire even higher on their behalf.”
“As a two term Board member, and past Chairman, I have had the unique opportunity to witness and support Howard’s thoughtful, intelligent leadership which has taken Region 17 Schools from a State ranking of 77th in 2009, when he joined us, to 16thin 2019 for overall performance,” said Sue Williams, Haddam Board of Education member. “In addition, our schools have received extraordinary and unprecedented honors, including State Schools of Distinction, National Blue Ribbon School, Elementary Schools of the Year, to name a few. His annual continuous improvement plans have enabled students to reach high levels of achievement. Working together with his skilled administration team and dedicated teachers, HK students leave our schools prepared and ready for a bright and successful future. Howard is a teacher at heart, and I learned a great deal from him during my time serving on the BOE with him. It has been a privilege to work with Howard on the Board of Education and I am grateful for his dedication and commitment to Regional School District 17 over the last 9 years. I wish him all the best as he continues his work in Region 10.”
““[Howard] spent nine years working hard, trying to make positive changes for the school district, and we appreciate all of his efforts,” said Karen Perry, a former Board of Education member and BOE Chairman from Killingworth.
On the morning of July 19, 2019, the following email was sent to district parents and community:
TO: RSD 17 FACULTY, STAFF, COMMUNITY
FROM: RSD 17 BOARD OF EDUCATION
It is my pleasure to let you know that the Board of Education, at its meeting on July 18th, voted to appoint Dr. Holly Hageman as Interim Superintendent of Schools. This Board has enjoyed a positive and productive relationship with Dr. Hageman during her five years as Assistant Superintendent. We look forward to continuing our work together in that same spirit of cooperation.
As many of you know, Holly’s distinguished career has touched all levels of education, from the classroom to Central Office, with success every step of the way. She was the obvious choice for this position as we demonstrate to our community—–faculty, staff, parents, municipal leaders—that there will be a strong and experienced hand guiding the District, and that our commitment to excellence in our schools will continue during this transition.
With the new school year just weeks away, we are confident that under Holly Hageman’s leadership, District 17 is ready to continue working in the best interests of our students and their education. She will begin her new position on August 16th.
Joanne Nesti
RSD 17 Board Chair
As we move forward, Mr. Thiery hopes that he has left this legacy: “a school system that has the capacity and commitment to continue to grow, improve and aspire to new and innovative ways to better educate and serve our students. RSD 17 is currently at the cutting edge of many transformative instructional methods and I hope my legacy is that it will start committed to that work.”
