Meet Guilford’s New Superintendent of Schools

How do you take a superior school district and make it better? For Guilford's new Superintendent of Schools Paul Freeman, Ed.D, it's a matter of raising the bar. While Guilford's already an outstanding Connecticut school district, there's no reason it can't aspire to become "a truly world-class educational community," as he terms it.

"This school district is on the edge of doing some exciting things. Academically, Guilford is really strong, yet asking some challenging questions of itself. I think we're poised for greatness here," says Paul, who officially began Nov. 28.

In addition to further improving performance, focusing on learning, and working on the instructional core of the district's programs, some visionary thinking is required, he says.

"The world is changing around us. Are our kids ready for those challenges?" Paul asks, noting "great transcripts" don't address student growth "socially, emotionally, artistically, creatively."

"We want students who can collaborate and synthesize. Steve Jobs wasn't successful just because he was a computer guy. People generate new ideas and think of things differently when you're socializing learning."

Collaboration and synthesis in Guilford's classroom is literally taking shape in design plans for the new high school.

"I expect to be very involved in the high school project. We have a very competent and committed building committee to oversee the process and a very skilled architectural firm. My job is to coordinate from the school side-is the building furthering the work that the Board of Education, teachers, and kids are doing here? The building has to encourage us to be better than we are."

Paul's excited about innovations developing during current Design Phase workshops, led by a consultant involved in working in state-of-the-art schools.

"Traditionally, schools are built with long hallways with compartments off them. That makes it difficult to collaborate. We want classrooms which are more flexible, so students have opportunities to communicate and facilitate," says Paul.

From furniture on wheels to areas facilitating verbal discussions, video conferencing, or digital interaction all in one classroom, "We want to create dynamic work spaces.

"Think of offices right on the edge-Google, Apple. They're working in teams, in spaces designed to specifically bring together people and inspire each other," Paul says. "That's when magic moments happen."

Just as he's been involved in the high school design process in the weeks leading up to his official first day, Paul's been touring schools and meeting with faculty and administrators. On Dec. 6, he was the Board of Education's guest during a community meet and greet.

But if you missed him then, just give him a call. In his first "Message from the Superintendent" (www.guilford.k12.ct.us), Paul writes, "If your community group-or just your neighborhood group-would like to discuss our schools and the future of our schools, I would be happy to join you at your organization's meeting, your home, or our office on Park Street to sit and talk.

"A couple of people have already called and we've scheduled some time. I'm meeting with teachers, kids, and our school leadership groups, but the parents are just as important," says Paul.

Paul arrives here from his tenure as superintendent of Griswold Public Schools. The Freemans reside in Killingworth, but the couple and its oldest son lived in Guilford for a number of years before the growing family moved away, about 10 years ago.

"I know this district pretty well," says Paul, describing Guilford as an "exciting community that's supportive of education and invested in the arts.

"I wasn't looking to leave Griswold, but when I found out this position was open, I had some conversations about coming here, and the opportunity pulled me away from Griswold. The people here have been incredibly welcoming and warm. Everybody is proud of what's going on here."

Guilford's current educational philosophy, including Institute of Learning (through the University of Pittsburg) programming instituted by past superintendent Dr. Thomas Forcella, "aligns really well with things I've been doing," adds Paul.

"I'm not looking to be a change agent. I want to come in and partner with the group that's already here and strengthen it. I think there's always an opportunity to see things that are being missed and to refine or contribute," he says. "It's exciting to say, 'How do we get to the next level?'"