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. 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.
