Calling Dr. Bryan Luizzi a talented, knowledgeable, articulate and energetic visionary who leads by including community stakeholders in important discussions regarding the district, the Board of Education on Monday named the longtime educator Superintendent of Schools.
Dr. Bryan Luizzi was named Superintendent of Schools for New Canaan here at the Oct. 20 meeting of the Board of Education. Credit: Michael Dinan
In the position on an interim basis since April, and prior to that serving for three years as New Canaan High School principal, Luizzi said during the school board’s meeting that “the excellence of the New Canaan Public Schools, I believe, will only continue to grow in the years ahead and the fact that we are such an outstanding district today really makes it inspiring to consider the things that we have ahead.”
Addressing the Board of Ed for the first time as superintendent, Luizzi thanked his wife and daughters (in attendance), described his colleagues in the district as “among the finest anywhere” and called his hiring to the permanent post emotional “because I have truly invested heart and soul in these last few months.”
“And education I do believe is the single most important endeavor that someone can put their heart and mind to as a career, and to do it here in New Canaan with people who are supportive, dedicated, who truly believe that every student deserves the absolute best—there’s no better place to do it,” he said during the meeting, held in the Wagner Room at New Canaan High School.
He succeeds Dr. Mary Kolek in the role. According to a press release issued by the district’s public information and communications specialist, Susan Kelley (read it here in full), Luizzi has worked in education for 18 years, including as an English teacher at Newtown High School, manager of technology operations for the district there, principal at Brookfield High School and adjunct professor at Central Connecticut State University and the University of Connecticut. He earned his doctorate degree from the Teachers College at Columbia University eight years ago.
Board of Ed Vice Chair Scott Gress said at the meeting that he was “honored” to have Luizzi at the helm.
“I think that we rarely get an opportunity to make a decision as important as this,” Gress said. “It comes along once every few years and hopefully not for many to come.”
Board member Dionna Carlson said that Luizzi has demonstrated his ability to lead and worked well “with all the key stakeholders in this community, be they students, parents, teachers, administrators or elected town officials.”
“I have heard nothing but positive feedback from those in the community,” Carlson said. She added: “While I know he has a vision for our schools in the next generation, he does the hard work of consensus-building that is the trademark of a leader.”
Baord member Penny Rashin said she feels “very fortunate” to have worked alongside Luizzi on a number of committees.
“What I have noticed is that you do have all the right qualities for being a leader: hard-working, insightful, forward-thinking, creative, solution-oriented and that’s fantastic,” she said.