The Register Citizen (Torrington, CT)
Litchfield Middle school principal Kubisek resigns, citing health
LITCHFIELD — Parents received a letter Friday from Superintendent of Schools Chris Leone, accompanied by a letter from middle school Principal Stephanie Kubisek announcing her resignation.
Kubisek, who is on medical leave, cited her recovery from a “fifth surgery in the past two years” as her main reason for leaving the job.
“These two years have affected me and this past recovery has left me time to reflect on my future,” Kubisek said in her letter. “After much consideration and many discussions with my husband, it is with a heavy heart that I have made the difficult decision to leave Litchfield Public Schools, effective June 30, 2020, to pursue other challenging educational endeavors.”
Kubisek expressed gratitude to the community for its support and praised the school district. “Collectively,
we have worked hard to provide and expect the best of all of our students,” she wrote. “When I first stepped foot in Litchfield High School in January 2000 as a graduate practicum student, I never could have imagined writing this letter twenty years later . ... I wholeheartedly thank you all for the opportunity to serve the countless students and parents and the greater Lichfield community.”
Leone told parents that social studies teacher Ben Storrs has been appointed the interim dean of students to supervise the middle school, and that the district will seek a long-term substitute for Storrs. Until a replacement is found, faculty member Sandra Macinaus will teach social studies.
“I expect that the middle school staff will continue to provide an excellent education for our students,” Leone wrote. “We will also take this time to improve the program for 20202021.”
Parents can email Leone at leonec@litchfieldschools.org with questions or concerns.
Leone, who became superintendent for Region 6 in 2014, became superintendent for the Litchfield school district in 2019. The dual role, he said at the time, was an “opportunity to allow two districts to come together and build programs that will benefit students for years to come.”
Litchfield Board of Education member and former chairwoman Gayle Carr said at the time that the shared superintendent position was something residents had supported “for a long time.”
“(Residents) have asked about shared services, and some have asked for regionalization,” she said. “This provides an opportunity for greater cost savings and educational opportunities for kids ... while leaving intact the autonomy of Litchfield and Region 6 as a separate educational entity.”
Each school district still has its own school board.
Declining enrollment and saving money were the driving concerns behind the move to combine the superintendent position in Litchfield and Region 6, Carr said.
“As the populations in both districts continue to decrease, it gets harder and harder to offer those options,” she said.
In October 2019, the district moved forward with its shared services plan. Leone said David Fiorillo, previously director of business operations for Litchfield Public Schools, was named chief financial officer, while Jeremiah Sattazahn, previously operations manager for Region 6, became chief operations officer.
“In the role of CFO, Mr. Fiorillo will have direct oversight of finances, technology, and food service. Mr. Sattazahn, in the role of COO, will lead our mutual efforts on facilities, transportation, and capital projects,” Leone said.