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Superintendent Search Focuses On Kishimoto

Board, Saying It Prefers Internal Candidate, Apparently Pares List To One

Vanessa De La Torre

February 11, 2011

The board of education's search for the next schools superintendent appears to have been narrowed to one candidate as the board gets ready to meet Tuesday to discuss its search.

Assistant Superintendent Christina Kishimoto, one of two announced candidates seeking to replace Steven Adamowski, was given a second interview late this week, sources said.

In her current role, Kishimoto developed the city's school choice program and has directed the redesign of low-performing schools into themed, career-oriented academies.

Meanwhile, Timothy Sullivan Jr., principal of the Greater Hartford Classical Magnet School, was told he was out of the running.

The 13-member superintendent search panel, composed largely of school board members, conducted the interviews over the past few days. No other internal candidates are under consideration at this point, sources said.

Sullivan confirmed Friday that the search committee had not moved his candidacy forward and said he had already sent e-mails to his staff members letting them know.

"I believe deeply in the City of Hartford, I care deeply for the City of Hartford," said Sullivan, a city resident and longtime school system employee. "I'm comfortable with not being selected and feel I gave it my best shot, and I'm happy to continue working in my capacity as principal of Classical Magnet."

School board Chairwoman Ada Miranda declined to comment Friday on whether the board was focusing on Kishimoto or anyone else.

"There isn't much I can say at this point," she said. "There will be a status update report on the [superintendent] search at next Tuesday's meeting."

Members of the search committee have been tight-lipped about the process. The board has made it clear, however, that it would prefer to find a candidate within the school system to succeed Adamowski and continue his reform initiatives.

The board has not conducted a national search, and has said it plans to do so only if no internal candidate emerges this week as the recommended pick. Adamowski plans to retire by July, which would leave a relatively short time frame for an extensive search.

In an advertisement that ran in The Courant on Wednesday, Hartford business and civic leaders called for the continuation of city school reform.

"We believe maintaining Hartford's new school reform strategy — and the measureable results being seen — is absolutely crucial," the advertisement states. "With Hartford now looking for a new school superintendent, the need for highly effective leadership could not be greater."

The names of 27 people, including MetroHartford Alliance CEO Oz Griebel, Aetna President and CEO Mark T. Bertolini, and David R. Fay, CEO of the Bushnell Center for the Performing Arts, were printed along with the statement.