Full Text:

Susan Hills Resigns From Board of Education

(with cut)

BY ANN MARIE COHEN

Susan Hills, vice chairman of Newtown Board of Education, this week announced

her intention to resign from the school board effective February 11.

Mrs Hills said it was a difficult decision to end her six-year tenure, but she

wishes to spend more time with her family, including her youngest child who is

still in high school, and to complete her bachelor's degree.

The board vice chairman said she feels good about the contributions she has

helped to make working on the board to effect changes over the years.

An advocate for children, her focus has consistently been on achieving

academic excellence for all children. She strongly feels that in order to

achieve this goal, small class sizes must be maintained.

"We must not overlook the normal child in the classroom. It is this child that

comprises the largest segment of the school population," she said.

Susan Hills' involvement in the Newtown school district began shortly after

she moved here 13 years ago from Newton, Mass., with her husband, Clark, and

their three daughters. Their daughter Sarah was enrolled at Hawley Elementary

School in a classroom of 30 students.

Mrs Hills said she felt this class size was too large, that it was unfair to

the teacher, and it did not create a fair opportunity for all children to

learn. It was at that time she decided that in order to have involvement in

the schools, it would be necessary to participate in the political process.

Mrs Hills was soon elected PTA president at Hawley School, followed by the

appointment to president of the PTA Council. She went on to organize and

become chairman of a political action committee established to support the

local schools and inform the community of the schools' needs. This led to her

current elected position on the Board of Education.

Mrs Hills also works at St Rose Church in Newtown as coordinator of the

religious education program for public school students. She has served on the

children's liturgy committee at St Rose for four years and teaches religious

education to fifth and eighth grades.

She is attending the University of Connecticut at Waterbury, where she will

graduate with a bachelor of science degree in general studies. She said she

does not know where her future plans lie, but she does know that her work with

children has always given her fulfillment and her devotion to children will

continue.

Mrs Hills said her resignation is effective as of February 11 unless the

school board needs her to stay on temporarily until a replacement is found.

Dr John Reed, superintendent of schools, and her colleagues on the Board of

Education said they will certainly miss her and remember her willingness to

always take a stand.