June 1, 2007
Dear Friends,
I have had the pleasure of chairing the Search Committee for the Director of the Trinity Parish Nursery School for the past three months. It is with great enthusiasm that I announce the news that we have completed our task. We are fortunate to have found an energetic and highly qualified leader that is worthy to carry on the work so magnificently done by our beloved Cheryl. She will begin at TPNS later in June.
On March 6, 2007 Cheryl Constand, Director of TPNS made the announcement that she would be retiring on June 30th of this year and going on to manage the family restaurant, Bravo, in downtown Fairfield. The members of the TPNS Board were saddened about this news and knew they would have a difficult task replacing such a warm and dedicated leader. A search committee was formed from the members of the School Board and the Church Vestry and consisted of myself, Sheila Capute, (Church Vestry Member and Nursery School Liaison), Alison Barry (Board Member), Joann DeMaso (Board Member), Debbie Reynolds (Board Member), Drew Hiltz (Junior Warden of Trinity Church), and the Rev. Nicholas Porter (Board Chairman and Rector of Trinity Church).
Members of the committee met with the teachers of TPNS and developed a School Profile and Job Description based on input from them and Cheryl Constand. We also engaged the services of a consultant, the Rev. Peter G. Cheney, Executive Director of the National Association of Episcopal Schools. Members of the Committee attended an informative seminar in New York City led by Peter to explore teaching, governance and leadership in parish nursery schools.
We were blessed with extremely strong and engaging candidates. After evaluating the candidates, we narrowed them down to three. During the final interview process we observed each candidate interacting with the children of TPNS. After very thoughtful and considerate discussion, the committee recommended its top choice.
The final decision was made by our Board Chairman and Rector, the Rev. Nicholas Porter, and our Junior Warden, Drew Hiltz, who together with the entire Vestry accepted the Committee's recommendation. We are very proud to announce Margaret "Meg" Reilly as the new Director of TPNS, and pleased to say that she has accepted the position.
Raised in Connecticut, Meg's experience with young children is extensive. She has worked in a school setting for the past twenty-seven years. For seven of those years, she owned and operated a preschool serving over sixty families in Yarmouth Port, Mass. In this capacity Meg has a proven record of hiring, supervising, and training staff, team-building, and curriculum development and implementation. Meg has worked with special needs children and was involved in the development of a model program designed for "at risk" preschool children in the Massachusetts public school system.
She has had a variety of experiences relating to child assessment and curriculum planning that will enhance the learning styles of the individual child. Our parents and teachers will benefit from her insight and know that she understands and deeply cares for children. Meg is committed to the established program and philosophy that exists at TPNS and is eager to develop positive relationships with everyone involved in the care and development of the students. She has a warm and engaging personality with all the qualifications necessary to be an effective and stimulating Director of our school.
Meg will join the TPNS family on June 11th to work directly with Cheryl before her departure. TPNS is truly blessed to have Meg as our new Director. Cheryl Constand's devotion to TPNS has left us with an exceptional school. We look forward to a continuing standard of excellence and growth with the leadership of Meg Reilly.
Sincerely yours,
Sheila Capute
Chair of Director Search Committee
and TPNS Board Member
