Leadership Structure

Fairfield currently has 3 different levels of curriculum leadership serving 14 program areas. A chart detailing the curriculum hierarchy in the district has been developed and outlines the various positions currently held in the district, the grade levels that each position is responsible for, and the percentage of time devoted to coordinating. Major role responsibilities are detailed below.

Program Directors report directly to the Chief Academic Officer and the Executive Director of Innovation. These are full-time administrative positions. In collaboration with the building administrators, the curriculum leaders have the following responsibilities:

• collaborate with building leaders and teachers to meet the varied needs of the core curriculum departments.
• collaborate with the Director of Innovation, Chief Academic Officer, and the entire senior leadership team to ensure vertical articulation and consistent implementation of curriculum PK-12.
• lead (Coordinate/Oversee) a variety of K-12 programs to ensure consistency across the district (i.e. STEAM, EL, Gifted, SRBI)
• collaborate and support all 17 schools as an instructional team to analyze data and improve student learning
• plan and lead professional learning for both teachers and administrators
• develop and manage program budgets.
• develop and revise curriculum to ensure alignment to the Common Core as well as state and national standards.
• develop local assessments to align with more rigorous Common Core Standards and state assessments.
• provide feedback to teachers as part of the teacher evaluation system.
• provide content-specific professional development.
• recruit and interview new teachers.
• assist teachers with instructional practice.
• communicate with parents.

The Program Directors meet regularly with the Chief Academic Officer and the Executive Director of Innovation, as well as their respective departments, in order to support high achievement for all students.

Curriculum Coordinators are part-time teachers with release time to perform their coordinator duties. These positions are evaluated by their building administrator, and they do not supervise or evaluate teachers. In collaboration with the building administrators, the curriculum leaders have the following responsibilities:

• insure smooth operation of their departments.
• develop and revise curriculum aligned to state and national standards.
• develop and manage their program budgets.
• provide professional development.
• order materials and resources.
• coordinate programs for the community (i.e. concerts, art shows, health fairs etc.).
• communicate with parents.

The Curriculum Coordinators meet regularly with the Chief Academic Officer and the Executive Director of Innovation, as well as their respective departments, in order to support high achievement for all students.

Department Liaisons are full-time teachers with no release time. They receive a stipend for the added responsibilities associated with this position. In collaboration with the building administrators, the department liaisons have the following responsibilities:

• develop and revise curriculum aligned to state and national standards.
• develop and manage their program budgets.
• order materials and resources.
• provide professional development.

The Department Liaisons meet regularly with the Chief Academic Officer and the Director of Innovation, as well as their respective departments, in order to support high achievement for all students.

       Curriculum Leadership Structure         

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Central Office

Arlene Gottesman, Interim Deputy Superintendent
Frank Arnone, Executive Director; Innovation, Curriculum and Programs

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Program Directors

(full time admin)

Lynn Holcomb	Elementary Literacy and Learning	1.0	Pre K – 5
Walter Wakeman	Elementary Mathematics and Enrichment	1.0	Pre K – 5
Jennifer Swingler	Secondary Literacy and Learning	1.0	6 – 12
Paul Rasmussen	Secondary Mathematics and Student Achievement	1.0	6 – 12
Justine LaSala	Secondary Science and K-12 STEAM	1.0	K – 12
Gregg Pugliese	Social Studies and Student Centered Learning, K-12	1.0	K – 12

                  

Curriculum Coordinators
(part time teacher / part time coordinator)

The chart indicates the percentage of each coordinator’s FTE for coordination.

Michele Hermsen	Art	.6	K – 12
Lori Mediate	Health	.4	K – 12
Kevin Buno	Music	.6	K - 12
Marc Hilinski	Physical Education	.6	K – 12
Eileen Frankel	World Language	.6	3 – 12
Department Liaisons (full time teachers with additional stipend)
Clare Stafstrom	Library Media		K – 5
Nicki Callahan	Library Media		6 – 8
Carolyn Waters	Library Media		9 – 12
Leslie Ford	Social Studies		K – 5
Michelle Gudiel Juarez	ELL		K – 5
Colleen Rodrigues	ELL		6 – 12
John McCandless	Industrial Tech. Ed.		7 – 12
Robin Terwilliger	Business		9 – 12
Rachel Keleher	Family Consumer Science		6 – 12