The Middletown Press (Middletown, CT)
BOE taps ‘obvious choice’ as interim schools chief
HADDAM — The Board of Education of Regional School District 17 has appointed Holly Hageman as interim superintendent of schools.
She is replacing Superintendent of Schools Howard Theiry, who announced his resignation this week to take a post as schools chief for Regional School District 10 in BurlingtonHarwinton.
Hageman has served for the past five years as assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction for District 17 and has done an “outstanding job” in program development, district restructuring and strategic capital planning, among many other areas, according to a news release.
A graduate of the University of Connecticut with a bachelor of science degree in biology, Hageman earned her master’s degree at Wesleyan University and doctorate in educational leadership at UConn.
Her career has included positions as assistant superintendent in Westport, director of curriculum and instruction in Regional School District 12 (Bridgewater, Roxbury, Washington); as principal of Nayaug Elementary School in Glastonbury, and at Irving A. Robbins Middle School in Farmington, according to the BOE.
She has also been a science teacher at HaddamKillingworth Middle School, where she was honored as Teacher of the Year.
“The RSD 17 Board of Education looks forward to working with Dr. Hageman in her new position and continuing the positive and productive relationship we have enjoyed throughout her tenure as assistant superintendent,” the release said.
“Holly was the obvious choice for this position,” BOE Chairwoman Joanne Nesti said in the release. “Selecting her should reassure the families of Haddam and Killingworth that a strong and experienced educator will be guiding our district in a smooth transition to new leadership.”
She will begin her new position Aug. 16. The board will also continue its work as a search committee for the selection of a permanent superintendent of schools.
In other news HaddamKillingworth Middle School Principal Jennifer Olsen will be relocating with her family in the coming year, and is leaving her post. Her last day will be Aug. 9.
“I am grateful for Dr. Olsen’s leadership over the last five school years, and for all that she has accomplished with her faculty, staff and community. I wish Dr. Olsen and her family all the best in their new and exciting adventures,” Thiery said in a release this week.
School officials are working on developing a plan to assure continuity of leadership at the middle school, including looking at the possibility of an interim principal and the process for hiring the next principal of HaddamKillingworth Middle School, Thiery added.