West Hartford Superintendent Announces Retirement

Superintendent of West Hartford Public Schools Dr. Karen List announced Tuesday that she plans to retire in June 2014, at the end of the upcoming academic year.

"It's been a year in coming," said List, and nothing in particular precipitated her decision. 

List, 62, has been a "leader" in West Hartford for 32 years, and has been an educator for 38 years. When she retires, she will have been at the helm of West Hartford Public Schools for five years.

She came to West Hartford as assistant coordinator of fine and performing arts, has been principal at Norfeldt, Webster Hill, and Smith (now Smith STEM) elementary schools, and was assistant superintendent for eight years. List was the first female to be named superintendent of schools in the district.

"I'm really proud of everything I've done serving West Hartford," she said. "I want to leave in a good place."

"I have very mixed feelings about Dr. List's announcement," said Board of Education Chair Bruce Putterman.

"I'm very happy for Karen that she's moving on to a new challenge, but sorry to see her leave us. She's been an extraordinary superintendent, the right person at the right time to lead us through changes and a strong leader to provide that navigation," Putterman said.

Putterman said that the district will make the most of the next year, and that List will certainly leave an enduring legacy.

In a prepared statement announcing her retirement, List identified many achievements that the district has earned during her tenure, among them recognition of the quality of Conard and Hall high schools by national organizations and publications, implementation of full-day pre-kindergarten at several schools, adoption of the International Baccalaureate Program at Charter Oak and the STEM program at Smith, installation of fiber-optic wireless technology, and maintenance of a budget in a difficult economic environment that is "accountable, strategic, and cost effective while maintaining appropriate staffing levels, core programs and services including the arts, health and well  being, elementary world language, and a wide range of courses at the high school level."

She plans to continue to lead the work on additional initiatives during the coming academic year, including implementation of Common Core State Standards, new teacher evaluation plans, and the planned construction of a new Charter Oak International Academy building.

"My service in this community is grounded in love and the satisfaction garnered from working with leaders, teachers, staff, parents, students, Board of Education and community members who value learning. West Hartford is a unique town in that it holds us to high expectations, keeps us accountable, and generously supports us both fiscally and through volunteerism in our schools," List wrote in her statement.

List does not have firm plans for her retirement, other than spending more time with her family which now includes an infant nephew. She wants to slow down the pace, and said she may take some drawing or painting classes.

List also said she may continue to work in education of adults. "I want to have some freedom to do the things I want to do. I love my work, but I love it too much."

The Board of Education will manage the process of selecting a new superintendent of schools. Putterman, who led the search process when List was hired in 2009, said he expects to announce plans for the process in the early fall, with the goal of naming a successor by February 2014.

When List was hired, many questioned the need for an extensive nationwide search, Putterman said, but the Board felt the process was important to identify a "change agent," understand who else was out there, and allow for a "community visionary process."

Putterman said that the Board has not yet, as a group, talked about the process, but no matter what, internal applicants will be considered.