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Westport School Superintendent Will Retire At End Of Next Year

WESTPORT, Conn. — Westport's Superintendent of Schools Elliott Landon will retire at the end of the 2015-16 school year, he announced Tuesday in a letter to parents, students and staff.

Westport Superintendent of Schools Elliott Landon will retire at the end of the 2015-16 school year.

Westport Superintendent of Schools Elliott Landon will retire at the end of the 2015-16 school year.

Photo Credit: File

Landon has led the Westport school district since 1999.

“There comes a time in the life of every successful Superintendent of Schools when one must conclude that it is time to let someone else take the reins of leadership and that time has come for me,” Landon said. “I am making this announcement a little more than a year before my contract with the Westport Public Schools expires. I am doing so in order to give the Board of Education a full year to select my successor."

Westport First Selectman Jim Marpe praised Landon's tenure in town.  

“I have had the honor and privilege of working alongside Dr. Landon for a number of years, including my eight-year tenure as a member and chair of the Board of Education," Marpe said. "Since taking office as first selectman, he and I have remained steadfast in our commitment to collaborating and forging a positive relationship with the town and Board of Education."

Marpe congratulated and thanked Landon for his "dedication to the town, its schools and most particularly, the multitude of children for whom he advocated. ... He consistently raised the bar of excellence and has made the schools in Westport some of the most successful in the country." 

Landon was the highest paid superintendent in the state last year, according to the Connecticut Association of Public School Superintendents with a salary of $290,000.

The Westport Board of Education also praised Landon's work in town. 

"We would like to thank Dr. Landon for leading our schools to tremendous heights during his 16-year tenure. Westport is widely regarded as one of the top school districts in the state and in the nation, and Dr. Landon has been integral to our collective success.

"Now, for the first time in 17 years, the Westport Board of Education will commence a search for a new superintendent," said a statement from the board, which promised to conduct a nationwide search for his successor.

"We very much appreciate all that Dr. Landon has done for our district and all he will continue to do for the next 13 months. We look forward to the community’s participation as we search for his successor."

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