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Superintendent of Greenwich Schools Resigns

Sidney Freund, superintendent of Greenwich schools, is stepping down from his post, he announced in an emergency Board of Education meeting Tuesday morning. Freund cited personal and professional reasons for his decision to leave.

In a letter to the Greenwich schools community, Freund said, “This has not been an easy decision. I poured my heart and soul into Greenwich. I have worked hard to re-instill public confidences in our schools and its leadership.”

The superintendent’s resignation will be effective in September. Freund started in the district in 2009, after heading the school district in Dobbs Ferry, N.Y. He was in the second year of a two-year, $230,000-a-year contract with the Greenwich school district.

Board of Education Chairman Steve Anderson said in a statment Tuesday, “With great reluctance, I have accepted Dr. Freund’s letter of resignation. Dr. Freund was hired to improve academic achievement as well as to restore trust and stability to the district. In two short years, he has connected with and has been well received by many in our community.”

During his time in the district, Freund established the district data team to develop district goals, supported the district’s Strategic Improvement Plan, backed the implementation of the International Baccalaureate Middle Years Program at Western Middle School, advocated for science instruction improvements across the district, changed the district’s review process for granting tenure to teachers, and supported the Greenwich High School Music Instructional Space and Auditorium project throughout the approval process.

After one year in the position, the Greenwich Parent Teacher Association Council executive committee voted unanimously to nominate Freund for state recognition as superintendent and the State Parent Teacher Student Association subsequently selected him as the 2010 Outstanding Superintendent of the Year.

Anderson said Freund’s approach to visiting schools and classrooms regularly and expanding the implementation of district goals across all schools in order to improve student outcome has helped advance oversight in the district. “I believe this has been and will continue to be the right approach, as is supported in the strategies outlined in the District Strategic Improvement Plan,” said Anderson. “Dr. Freund will be greatly missed and we thank him for all he has done to move our District forward.”

Last week the board had voted positively to start negotiations to extend Freund’s contract by two years. Only two board members had dissenting votes, Marianna Ponns Cohen and Peter Sherr.

“The board will immediately begin the next steps in determining the search and selection process for a new superintendent,” said Anderson. “I am highly confident that our leadership team will continue to move the District forward and maintain the focus on our students and their educational growth.”

Read Freund's resignation letter here

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