WESTFIELD – After serving what she called “five great years,” Superintendent Dr. Suzanne Scallion officially announced to the School Committee Monday night her plans to retire at the end of June 2016.
Saying that she had a heavy heart and mixed feelings, Scallion said to committee members, “I want to give you time to begin a search, and announce my intention to retire on June 30.”
She said she would be turning in her letter of resignation to Human Resources Director Jennifer Willard on Tuesday.
Ramon Diaz thanked Scallion for her service and said, “We will have to start putting a sub-committee together tomorrow.”
Kevin Sullivan also thanked her for the warning, and giving them time to find a replacement.
“We have eight months to say goodbye,” Sullivan said.
“Basically, I have loved coming to work every single day,” Scallion said after the meeting. “It was such an honor to be the superintendent of such a great group of people.”
She added that under the School Committee and chair Mayor Knapik, “I saw a lot of investment in the schools.”
Her plans for the moment center on spending time with her 92-year-old father. Her mother passed away this fall. Scallion said her father still lives at home on Cape Cod, and goes out to breakfast every day. She hopes to have some fun with him.
“I’m going to take some time and figure out what I want to do for my next career,” Scallion said.
Other plans include following the Lewis and Clark trail for the second time, and visiting former exchange students in Europe.
“Travel and time, and most importantly time with my Dad…” Scallion said. “I’m pretty lucky to still have him around.”
