Principal search is underway

WINSTED — Region 7 school officials are already sifting through applications from several candidates interested in replacing retiring Northwestern High School Principal Wayne Connor.

Connor, who has spent nearly four decades as an educator, announced his retirement in November. His last day on the job will be June 31.

Connor spent the last 26 years as a member of the district’s staff. He has served as a teacher, housemaster and principal.

Region 7 Superintendent of Schools Clint Montgomery said the district has developed a plan to guide the administration and school board through the principal search process, ensuring it remains as fair, balanced and efficient as possible.

“It is a pretty structured and pretty effective process,� Montgomery told The Journal Tuesday. “And we need that to fill the very large shoes of Mr. Connor.�

The plan consists of a screening committee that will sift through the stack of submitted applications. Montgomery said the district has received a small handful of applications from those already working as educators within Region 7.

“And we’ve started to receive applications from outside the district as well,� he said.

From there, a small group of candidates will be selected to move forward to the next step, which will involve an in-person meeting at the district with an interview committee made up of school board members, administrators, students and parents.

Once the interviewing process is completed, the committee will narrow the field of four or five candidates down to its final choice for the post. That recommended candidate will then be presented to the school board for final approval.

“And then they choose to accept or reject that recommendation,� Montgomery said, adding that if the school board rejects the search committee’s final candidate, they will “go back to the drawing board.�

Montgomery said he is hoping to have the entire search and selection process completed by the end of March. The last day an interested candidate can file an application with the district is Jan. 29.