The Watertown Board of Education is pleased to announce that after a thorough selection process, Lisa Fekete has been selected as the Director of Curriculum and Instruction. Ms. Fekete is currently the Principal of Polk Elementary Schools.
The selection process began in late June after former Assistant Superintendent, Dr. Janet Parlato, was appointed as the Watertown High School Principal. Rather than hiring a new Assistant Superintendent, Dr. Harrison, Superintendent of Schools, elected to restructure the roles and responsibilities of the central office and hire a Director of Curriculum and Instruction. “As a district, we are in the business of teaching and learning and having a Director in Curriculum and Instruction in place will improve our ability to focus on the priority areas of our District Improvement Plan,” said Dr. Harrison. Ms. Fekete was one of twenty-seven applicants for the position. As she progressed through the interview process, her passion for and knowledge of curriculum, instruction and assessment was evident. “Ms. Fekete has a deep understanding of what it takes to impact student outcomes and knows how to develop systems and processes that will create and sustain academic improvement,” said Dr. Harrison.
Prior to becoming a Principal in Watertown Public Schools in 2014, Ms. Fekete taught in Newington for 20 years. After leaving the classroom, she became a library media specialist and head teacher before spending the last year as an administrative intern at Elizabeth Green Elementary School in Newington. Ms. Fekete has been the principal of Polk Elementary School for the last five years. Under her leadership, Polk’s test scores climbed significantly, earning state recognition as a School of Distinction. “The Board has been impressed with Ms. Fekete’s commitment to school improvement and willingness to explore innovative approaches since she’s been at Polk. We are excited about how she will apply the lessons learned at Polk as she leads our academic improvement efforts across the district” said Leslie Crotty, Board of Education Chair.
While Ms. Fekete is looking forward to this new opportunity, leaving Polk is difficult. “For the last five years, the students, staff and parents at Polk have been like a family to me. I’m proud of all we accomplished together and I am grateful that I can continue to support them in my new role,” said Ms. Fekete. Dr. Harrison will work with Ms. Fekete to determine an official start date that will allow for a smooth transition and ensure Polk has a strong start to the school year. “We will post the principal vacancy immediately. Our ideal candidate will have a strong instructional background and understand how to foster positive relationships across the entire school community,” said Dr. Harrison.