Assistant Superintendent To Step Down Later This Year

By Tanjua Damon

It was not an action school board members wanted to take, but in the end, they voted unanimously Tuesday night to accept the resignation of assistant superintendent Robert Kuklis, who is retiring.

In a letter to Superintendent of Schools John Reed, dated January 2, Dr Kuklis explained that although his six-plus years with the Newtown School District have been rewarding and satisfying, it is time for him to take time out to be with family and enjoy the leisure of life too. It was not an easy decision for Dr Kuklis.

“My learning, growth, and achievements in the Newtown Public Schools reflect the outstanding quality of the administration and teachers in the district. I will continue to cherish the professional relationships that I have cultivated here over the last six-plus years and hope to maintain some deep friendships that will continue to engage me in what is best in education,” Dr Kuklis wrote. “I can persuade myself again and again that I want to continue as the assistant superintendent in Newtown. It is now my time to enjoy the pleasures of retirement and consider work as an occasional event to fill remaining spaces in my life.”

Dr Kuklis will step down from his position on or about August 1, 2001. The board told Dr Kuklis that although it is an exciting and happy time for him, it was a sad one for Newtown Public Schools.

“His impact on the district has been profound,” Dr Reed said at the meeting. “He has set a very, very high bar for us to meet. I have not been around anyone with more energy who is in the schools more than he is.”

All the school board members wished Dr Kuklis well and thanked him for his efforts in increasing student performance and the quality of education in Newtown through curriculum development.

“It’s obvious to see that you have a wide scope of things you handle and that you obviously handle well,” board member Earl Gordon said. “We miss you already.”

“I’m very sorry that I won’t have a longer period to work together on a cause that is so dear to both of us: educating our children,” Sheila Stickles said.

Dr Kuklis has offered to stay on the job past August 1, if a replacement has not been found at that time.