The Register Citizen (Torrington, CT)
Gilbert School principal resigns
Strauss takes job in Massachusetts
WINSTED » Alan Strauss, who has served as the principal of The Gilbert School for nearly a half-decade, is set to step away from the institution to become the principal of Weymouth High School in Weymouth, Mass.
Strauss offered his resignation to the school corporation in a letter Tuesday, Gilbert School Corpo-
poration Chairman Steven Sedlack said Wednesday, who accepted it with regret.
“It’s Gilbert’s loss. We’re sad to see him go,” said Sedlack.
Superintendent Anthony Serio praised Strauss Wednesday in a statement, lauding his abilities as an educator and leader for The Gilbert School.
“Alan was the best instructional leader I had the pleasure to work with in my 45 year career in education,” said Serio. “He facilitated changes at TGS that gained us award winning status.”
Strauss’ resignation will be effective on July 7, Sedlack said.
Sue Sojka, the associate principal at Gilbert, was appointed to succeed Strauss Tuesday, Sedlack said, on Serio’s recommendation.
Sojka, Serio noted Wednesday, will be the first woman principal of The Gilbert School, which was founded in 1895.
“She’s done an excellent job as principal at the middle school,” said Sedlack. “We felt she was more than qualified.”
Sojka’s position will not be filled as a cost-saving measure — Serio said that the position would be put “in moratorium.”
To fit the allocation included in the newly agreedupon contract between Gilbert and the Winchester Public Schools, the Gilbert budget needed to be reduced by approximately $402,000 from Serio’s initial proposal.
Serio mentioned the required reduction when the contract was struck June 20, and said the specifics had not been determined.
The corporation voted to accept the bottom-line reduction Tuesday, Sedlack said, but the specifics of that cut have not yet been worked out beyond the elimination of an administrative position.
“It’s obviously a cut we didn’t want to make, but we wanted a contract, and this was part of the deal,” said Sedlack.
Eliminating the position, Serio said, would save the school approximately $135,000, and leave it with 4.5 administrators — he, as a part-time Superintendent, being the 0.5.
Strauss praised the school corporation and thanked them for their support in his letter of resignation.
“We have done incredible work together and I am very proud of the growth we made. A true leader eventually walks away and the foundation and (multi-levels) stay (intact) rather than crumble,” wrote Strauss in his letter to the school corporation. “Led by Tony and Sue and with the support of the school corporation and trust, I know TGS is in an incredible place and more is on the horizon.”
Strauss and Sojka could not immediately be reached for comment Wednesday. Officials with the Weymouth Public Schools did not return messages seeking comment.
Earlier this month, Strauss was one of three finalists to become principal at Monument Mountain Regional High School in Great Barrington, Mass., according to the Berkshire Eagle and The Berkshire Edge.
Strauss had discussed the possibility of leaving with Serio in recent months, Sedlack said, and the corporation knew that he had interviewed in other locations.
Strauss was named The Gilbert School principal in 2012, coming to the school from Windsor High School.
He brought needed direction to the institution when he was hired, Sedlack said, and added rigor to the instruction there during his tenure.
He was named High School Principal of the Year by the Connecticut Association of Schools in February 2016, after previously being named as a winner of the First-Year Principal Award for 2013-14.
“He was very worthy of the honor bestowed on him by CAS as Principal of the Year for CT,” Serio said in a statement Wednesday. “We all wish him well in his new position at Weymouth High School in Weymouth, Ma.”