Voter Guide: School Board Candidates on the Superintendent Search

We asked candidates for Newtown's Board of Education what kind of superintendent they thought the district should choose to replace interim leader John Reed, who steps down next year. Responding are Republicans David Freedman and Kathy Hamilton and Democrats Michelle Ku and Laura Main.

David Freedman

"A new superintendent should be business savvy, a relationship builder, communicator, educator, visionary, an out-of-the-box thinker and one knows how to bring the community together."

Kathy Hamilton

"I am looking for someone that is a good and consistent communicator with staff, students, parents and the community as a whole. This person needs to be a part of the community. They need to have the ability to inspire greatness in our students and staff. In my experience, the people I have worked hardest for are the people who value their staff and show it. We need someone with energy and integrity. We need someone who has experience as a teacher, principal and administrator – someone who can mentor with credibility.

Our board is committed to finding the right person and not settling. We have communicated to the search firm that if we don’t find the right person the first go-around, we will continue to look. I am confident that we will find the right person before the school year is finished."

Michelle Ku

"The superintendent for Newtown must be someone whose sole focus is to provide the best education that we can to all children of Newtown - one who appreciates the need to inspire each student to excel. I am not referring to the need to do well on tests, but rather, the need to do well in life. Whether the student has an aptitude for mechanics, an interest in theater, a love of debate, or an interest in creative writing.

We also need a superintendent who builds trust and open communication and has an ability to engage the entire community, one who has the ability to work collaboratively with the other boards, and one who has an understanding of the ongoing emotional and mental health needs of this community.

Our community has very unique needs, and for that reason, we cannot settle. Finding the right person may take time, but we must be deliberate and selective."

Laura Main

"I believe our next superintendent needs to have integrity and be honest and open with the public. Communication skills are a must.  The superintendent needs to be skilled at working collaboratively with the public, the BOE, and the teachers and staff. I do not believe the BOE will have difficulty finding a qualified candidate. In fact, I think now more than ever there are many candidates interested in this position than would have been in the past. I think we saw this with the recent turnover in administrators as well."