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Health & Fitness

Dr. Kevin Smith, Superintendent of Bethel Schools, Is Leaving His Position

Posted by Paula Antolini

Superintendent of Bethel Schools Dr. Kevin Smith announced his departure in a letter on February 6, 2014, and he will be leaving Bethel at the end of this school year.  See letter here:

Dear  Parents, Guardians and Caregivers,

It is with very mixed emotions that I write to inform you of my decision to leave Bethel Schools at the end of this school year. About two months ago I was approached by a recruiter looking to fill the Superintendent vacancy in Wilton Public Schools. I have been extremely fulfilled in my work here in Bethel and was not looking for a different position. That being said, when presented with the opportunity, I felt compelled to explore it thoroughly. I was offered the position and after a great deal of deliberation chose to accept. I have always believed that things happen for a reason and I truly believe that this is the right opportunity for my family and for me at this time. A move to Wilton will put me closer to home and allow me to experience more of these precious moments as my own children grow.

 Please know that I feel very strongly connected to this community and the decision to move on, especially after such a short tenure as Superintendent, is not one that was made lightly. I have loved coming to work every single day (even on the days with questionable snow calls…) Bethel is a wonderfully strong and cohesive community with clear values. It has been a joy to work with so many parents and community members on strengthening our schools and community as a whole. I have been deeply moved time and again by this community’s generosity and outpouring of love and support when tragedies have struck. In my mind it is this attribute that Bethel so special.

Find out what's happening in Bethelwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

I ask you not to worry about the change in leadership. Bethel’s administrators are extremely strong and share the same commitment to vision and mission. Likewise our Board of Education is committed to making our school system the best it can be and will select the right candidate who will continue to lead this community to greater levels of excellence. I feel completely confident in them and know that their work will yield a strong leader who will fit well with the strong educational culture.

I look forward to my remaining six months as Superintendent in Bethel. As we move into spring, there will be great many things to celebrate and my goal is to make the leadership transition as smooth, respectful and minimally distracting as possible. While I am personally thrilled about the opportunity to join the Wilton community, I am also genuinely sorrowful about leaving this wonderful community.

Find out what's happening in Bethelwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Warmest Regards,

Kevin J.Smith Ph.D

Superintendent of Schools






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