Assistant superintendent of schools planning to leave Norwich in January

Thomas Baird is expected to take over in another Connecticut district

Norwich — Assistant Superintendent Thomas Baird will be leaving Norwich, as he is expected to be named superintendent in another Connecticut district on Thursday and begin the new position in January.

Baird and Superintendent Kristen Stringfellow announced his pending move Tuesday to the Board of Education, since there is no other board meeting before his departure. Baird said he could not disclose the district, which is not in southeastern Connecticut.

“I’ve been thinking about being a superintendent since I served on the Board of Education in Northampton (Mass.),” Baird said Tuesday. He served on that board from January 2015 through March 2017, commuting 90 minutes to Norwich until he moved to Glastonbury in March 2017.

Baird said his new position is in a district that, like Norwich, is heavily focused on teaching and learning programs “that really reflected both my strengths and core beliefs.” The new district also is working on STEAM magnet theme integration.

In Norwich, Baird worked on the effort to convert the Kelly Middle School into a STEAM middle school and Teachers’ Memorial Middle School into a global studies magnet program. The programs are “halfway” through their federal magnet conversion grants, he said.

“I’m still proud of the work we’ve done here,” he said.

Baird, who was hired in Norwich in July 2015 as director of curriculum and instruction, was named assistant superintendent a year ago, but also still handles curriculum duties. He said when his title changed, his duties changed, as well.

In both positions, he worked on curriculum development, including implementing the Readers and Writers Workshop program and served as the fill-in for the superintendent.

But as assistant superintendent, Baird focused on curriculum and building up the professional development

programs for administrators. He also added a focus on safe school climate and recruitment and retention of staff.

Stringfellow told the board Tuesday she plans to hire two interim staff retirees, each part-time, to cover Baird’s duties. She said she would name the interim staff once Baird’s appointment is confirmed.