The Reminder has a heart to heart with Hart

Date: 9/1/2009

By Natasha Clark

Assistant Managing Editor



LONGMEADOW Superintendent of Schools E. Jahn Hart recently announced her plans to retire in June 2010. Last week, she participated in a Q&A with Reminder Publications.



The Reminder: Why did you feel that now was the right time to retire?

Hart: I had a serious accident last February - I fell down a full flight of stairs in the dark and fractured several vertebrae in my back. After months of physical therapy, I am actually doing quite well and I count my blessings every day. During my recuperation, I heard many stories of loved ones and friends who had suffered much more dire consequences from a similar fall. I know that I was one of the lucky ones, and I have become keenly aware of the fragility of life. I love my job and the truly important work that we do - all of us - to make a difference in the lives of children. But I also love my family. I do my best to balance work and home, but it feels like I say "no" too often - "no" to weekend adventures, "no" to Little League games and plays, "no" to extended vacations and spur-of-the-moment outings. I want to say "yes" more. Consequently, my husband Gary and I have decided to retire together after this school year.

The Reminder: Why did you decide to get into education?

Hart: For me, it was always a natural calling. My mom, who taught kindergarten for a while, surrounded us with rich vocabulary, trips to the library and exploratory learning. She seldom gave us answers - she taught us how to find them on our own. She was my first and best teacher and a great role model.

The Reminder: You came on at a critical time as superintendent. What did you hope to accomplish during your time as superintendent of schools?

Hart: Good question. I was first hired as Interim Superintendent (in June 2006) and then appointed Superintendent in September 2006. At the time, the School Department was engaged in discussions with the town about how to implement the Charter. I was charged with improving relations and collaboration with the town and with facilitating the transition of services.

The School Committee also wanted me to hire a Pupil Services Director; reorganize the administration of technology operations; conduct a financial and programmatic analysis of the school district's relationship with the LPVEC; monitor the transition to new financial management software, including review of established procurement and other related financial practices and policies; and work with the teachers' union on the development of a revised evaluation process for teachers.

My instructional-related goals were to continue our improvement efforts in teaching and learning, including more alignment of curriculum and instruction across our elementary schools and among our two middle schools. I am also a firm believer in the power of communication, collaboration and caring. For me, people always make the difference and the way that we interact with each other is directly related to the quality of the work that we do.

The Reminder: What are some things implemented/improved during your time as superintendent that you are proud of?

Hart: First of all, it feels funny to talk about accomplishments as superintendent when I have a full year ahead of me, during which I will be working hard to continue our improvement efforts. However, there are a number of accomplishments for which I am proud, none of which were achieved without the assistance of my dedicated colleagues and the School Committee. Under my leadership:

We have hired eight of the current members of our administrative team and I believe that all 11 of them are not only top notch individually, but collectively. I love working with them and seeing that they (we) are truly a professional learning community. Hired during my tenure was the Assistant Superintendent for Instruction, Pupil Services Director, Technology Director, School Business Manager and four principals.

We established security systems in all six schools.

We improved communications with parents and staff through the implementation of an electronic messaging system (ConnectEd).

We achieved improvement in attendance recordkeeping and cost savings through the elimination of a substitute caller position and the adoption of an electronic attendance and substitute placement system (AESOP) at one-fourth the cost.

We worked with our School Business Manager to make improvements to all financial policies and procedures, including the development of a new budget format.

We instituted new procedures for budgeting that included reallocating resources to maximize cost efficiencies while maintaining essential programs and functions.

We have made significant improvements in the quality and efficiency of the allocation of resources for special education and our engagement with the parents of our special needs students.

As a district, we continue to spend less per pupil than the state average and than most area school districts.

On our Opening Day (Aug. 25) we had Kim Marshall address all of our professional educational staff to kick up our two-year Pilot for Supervision and Evaluation an incredibly exciting venture!

We have placed Longmeadow High School in the capital pipeline for funding by MSBA of an improved facility (renovated or new) and will be seeking approval for a building solution this spring.

The Reminder: Is there anything in particular that you think you will miss?

Hart: As I stated earlier, people always make the difference for me. I came to Longmeadow because of the quality of both the school system and the staff. I am fortunate to work in a community that values education, to work for a highly professional and dedicated School Committee and to work with administrators and staff who daily make a difference in the lives of children. I love being in the schools and seeing the wonderful interaction between children and gifted educators.

The Reminder: What is the current state of the school district and where would you like to see it headed?

< b>Hart: Longmeadow continues to be a high-performing school district that is committed to continuous improvement. We have made great strides in focusing on what matters most and in keeping our "eyes on the child learning." We have managed to reallocate resources to keep our organization strong. However, we have been hindered by financial constraints from making many of the improvements outlined in our Strategic Plan.

Through budget reductions, we have lost some incredibly talented educators, eliminated middle school technology/engineering and reduced our elementary instrumental program. We are facing tough fiscal times ahead and I sincerely hope that both the town and the School Department will be able to prioritize their resources to maintain excellence in those services that are most valued. As I have told our staff members, our focus on learning at high levels for all students requires the persistent examination of these four questions:

What do we want each student to learn? (What are the essential learning outcomes?)

How will we know if/when each student has learned? (How and how often do we assess learning?)

How will we respond when students experience difficulty learning? (What interventions strategies do we have in place?)

How will we respond when a student has mastered the learning outcomes? (How will we differentiate instruction and/or provide enrichment?)

Those are guiding principles for where the district needs to continue to be headed.

The Reminder: And, just for fun, what are some things you are looking forward to doing after you retire?

Hart: I look forward to spending much more time with my family and friends - attending games and plays, getting outdoors more and reading for fun!

The Reminder: And what are some fun facts or hobbies you have that others may not know about you?

Hart: Let's see - I've been zip lining in the rain forest; I joined the police in their Active Shooter trainer last spring (including some target practice with the guns); I love getting into the woods with my husband and our two beagles; I like fishing and high tea and reading mysteries. I play video games. I am a doting grandmother who has no qualms about being silly if it will get a laugh from a six- or eight-year-old.

The Reminder: What role do you play in finding the next superintendent, and what are the time frames of getting that person in the position?

Hart: The School Committee has full responsibility for the superintendent search and they have already begun that discussion at their retreat this week by having Glenn Koocher, the executive director of the MASC, give them some initial guidance about approaches and time frames. I know they will want a replacement identified by next spring, if possible. I will participate as much as they would like me to in that process. My goal, like theirs, is to ensure a smooth transition and a continuation of the school district's excellent educational performance.