Information Regarding Superintendent of Schools Search

On January 2, 2020, the BOE unanimously voted to appoint Dr. Susie Da Silva as the next Superintendent of the Ridgefield Public Schools. Dr. Da Silva will begin her appointment on April 1, 2020.

Dr. Da Silva will be transitioning into the position currently held by Interim Superintendent Dr. JeanAnn Paddyfote. Dr. Paddyfote has led our district during the search to fill the permanent Superintendent position after Dr. William Collins’ resigned due to medical complications.  

The Board of Education, functioning as the Personnel Search Committee, engaged in the work of finding a permanent Superintendent of Schools. The Personnel Search Committee recommended Dr. Da Silva as the candidate for Superintendent to the BOE. The BOE elected Dr. Da Silva as Superintendent with a unanimous vote taken in the meeting on January 2, 2020. The election of a school superintendent is a state-legislated responsibility of the BOE. Conn. Gen. Stat Sec 10-157

The Board of Education seeks to communicate factual  information to the public regarding the search process and status. The information on this page was updated at key milestones.

• August 28, 2019 - The BOE approved a motion to accept the resignation of Dr. William Collins as Superintendent of Schools and authorized the Board Chair to sign a letter confirming the resignation.
• August 28, 2019 - The BOE approved a motion to establish a Personnel Search Committee whose purpose is to recommend a candidate or candidates for the position of Superintendent of Schools for the Ridgefield Public Schools, and move further that all members of the Ridgefield Board of Education be appointed to the committee.
• The Personnel Search Committee has met. Meetings of a Personnel Search Committee for executive level positions are excluded from the definition of a public meeting under the FOIA. Conn Gen. Stat Sec 1-200 (2)
• The Personnel Search Committee has engaged the services of Cooperative Educational Services (CES) to facilitate the search for the position of the RPS Superintendent of Schools.
• November 6, 2019 - The BOE approved a motion to expand the Personnel Search Committee to include newly-elected members of the Board of Education effective immediately.
• January 2, 2020 - The BOE voted to appoint Dr. Susie Da Silva as the next Ridgefield Superintendent of Schools.
• April 1, 2020 - Dr. Da Silva starts as Ridgefield Superintendent.