The the Board of Education unanimously voted to extend Superintendent of Schools William S. McKersie’s employment contract through June 30, 2017. At the Board’s June 17 meeting, Vice Chairman Jennifer Dayton highlighted the Superintendent’s strong
relationship building efforts with students, staff, parents and the broader community, and oversight of District accomplishments including three large-scale initiatives:
– the implementation of Common Core State Standards in Reading/Language Arts and
Mathematics,
– the merging of the State’s System for Educator Evaluation and Development (SEED) with the District’s Teacher Evaluation and Professional Learning (TEPL) plan, and
– the administration of the Smarter Balanced Assessment Field Test in Spring 2014.
Board of Education Chairman Barbara O’Neill said, “With an eye toward securing continuity and building upon the positive momentum in student learning and achievement, instructional practices such as Digital Learning and efforts to connect to the public, the Board Of Education is pleased to extend the contract of Superintendent Dr. McKersie by two years. We believe that consistency of leadership will translate into improved academic success for our students. This will be the first time in 12 years that a superintendent has committed to stay beyond the initial three-year contract. We are gratified that we have this opportunity to stay the course with Dr. McKersie.”
Dr. McKersie said, “I am humbled by the support from the Board of Education to extend my service as Superintendent of the Greenwich Public Schools. In the last two years that I have lived and worked in Greenwich, I have become deeply invested in the schools and in the community. My commitment is to do all I can to have Greenwich known nationally as a school system that accelerates learning for all students, provides robust artistic, musical, athletic and social programming, promotes civic dedication and service, and fosters in all staff and students an unwavering focus on compassion and caring.”
At the June 17th meeting, the Board also discussed the Superintendent’s annual evaluation. In a statement submitted by Chairman Barbara O’Neill, she said, “We are pleased with the Superintendent’s leadership in guiding the successful implementation of SBAC, SEED, and the Common Core Standards along with the digital learning initiative in the two elementary schools. We look forward in 2014-2015 to the implementation of the K-12 Assessment System, the Racial Balance plan and his cooperation in the development of the Board’s Strategic Plan.”
In July 2012, William S. McKersie began his tenure as Superintendent of Schools for the Greenwich Public Schools in Greenwich.
Prior to coming to Greenwich, he served as the Associate Superintendent for Academic Excellence for the Archdiocese of Boston (2008-2012) and as the Associate Dean for Development and Alumni Relations for Harvard University’s Graduate School of Education (2004-2008). Dr. McKersie began his career as an Admissions Officer, and faculty member of the Northfield Mount Hermon School in Northfield, MA.
Dr. McKersie received a Bachelors of Arts degree in Social Psychology from Tufts University in Medford, MA in 1981, graduating Cum Laude. He received a Masters in Education from Harvard University Graduate School of Education in Cambridge, MA in 1986 and a Doctor of Philosophy from the University of Chicago’s, Department of Education in Chicago, IL in 1997. Dr. McKersie lives in Greenwich with his wife Katherine, a Connecticut native, and their two daughters. Dr. McKersie’s two teenage sons live in Boston, MA.