RCSU announces new superintendent
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By PATRICIA MINICHIELLO STAFF WRITER - Published: March 11, 2009
The Rutland Central Supervisory Union Board may have searched nationwide for its next superintendent but, in the end, it only needed to look a few towns over.
Wendy Savery, a resident of Middlebury and the assistant superintendent of the Addison Rutland Supervisory Union, will replace Superintendent Karen White, who announced in December that she is leaving June 30, to become principal of Woodstock Elementary School.
The Rutland Central Supervisory Union encompasses Proctor, Rutland Town and West Rutland schools. It's a smaller district than the Addison Rutland Supervisory Union, which encompasses Benson, Castleton, Fair Haven and Orwell.
"I came from the smallest high school in New Hampshire in a K-12 system. As I look back, I think there is so much to value about small-town communities and K-12 school systems," Savery said, noting that she is excited to get started in a district, where everybody knows your name and families hold strong values.
Savery, 48, grew up on the Connecticut River Valley border and moved to Vermont in the summer of 1992. She has experience in special education as a consulting teacher in the Middlebury-Bristol area. Savery also worked as a special education administrator for the Rutland South Supervisory Union, before taking the position as assistant superintendent — a job she has held for the past six years.
Savery and her husband are empty nesters with two grown sons and one grandchild. She said now is a perfect time for her to take on the demanding role of superintendent.
She will begin work on July 1 and her starting salary is $100,000.
Savery said she has always wanted to be in a leadership position, where she could have a voice in what was happening with public education and becoming a superintendent will allow her to have that voice.
"I am really looking forward to the opportunity to have conversations and dialogues with these communities on how we preserve the good qualities of small public schools," Savery said.
Savery's predecessor, White, was appointed by the board to head up the search committee to replace herself. White said the decision to hire Savery was unanimous.
"Wendy was the top choice," White said noting that the district was fortunate to have about 17 applicants after advertising for it. The entire process took about three months to complete.
White said in addition to Savery's broad background in education, she has experience writing, receiving and managing grants, which will come in handy during these tumultuous economic times.
As for the next superintendent, White said she will work with Savery to ensure a smooth transition.
One key to Savery's role at the helm of the district, White said, will be working closely with school boards in all aspects of budgeting, personnel matters and strategic planning.
Jim Wright, a member of the Rutland Central Supervisory Union Board and the Rutland Town School Board, said he thinks Savery is an excellent choice for the position.
"She brings a lot of experience to the job and has the leadership traits we were looking for," he said, adding she was able to verbalize her vision for the Supervisory Union.
After working with White during his time on both the school and supervisory union boards, Wright said he will be sorry to see her go.
"I think she was a real asset to the community and to the supervisory union and we'll miss her."
He said, however, "change is inevitable and I think Wendy will be able to continue what Karen has established."
patricia.minichiello@rutlandherald.com
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