To: The Smithfield Community
FROM: Smithfield School Committee
Date: April 27, 2022
We are delighted to announce the appointment of Ms. Dawn Bartz as the incoming Smithfield Superintendent of Schools. Dawn Bartz, M.A. and Ed.D. candidate, is currently an Executive Director for the Yonkers Public Schools in Yonkers, NY where she is responsible for the supervision and evaluation of administrators and educators in ten schools. She oversaw the Social Studies curriculum and professional development in all thirty-nine schools and led the district in its transition to remote, hybrid, and in-person instruction during the pandemic. Prior to that, Ms. Bartz served as principal in both Danbury, CT, and Pleasantville, NY as well as Assistant Principal in New Canaan, CT. Her teaching experience includes History/Social Studies teaching in Westport, CT as well as in Laguna Beach Unified School District, CA.
Over several weeks, with the support of the New England School Development Council, the Smithfield Screening Committee met to review applications and interview candidates for the position of Superintendent of Schools. The Smithfield Screening Committee reviewed all the applications and subsequently selected a number of candidates who were invited to participate in a virtual preliminary interview. Following the interviews, and after much discussion and consideration, the Screening Committee voted to recommend candidates for further consideration by the Smithfield School Committee. The School Committee subsequently interviewed the candidates in person and authorized reference checks. The School Committee was pleased with the strength and experience of the finalist candidates.
Ms. Bartz obtained a BA Degree from the University of Rhode Island in Journalism and Speech Communication as well as two MA degrees: one in Social Studies Education from Columbia University Teachers College and one in Political Science from California State University. She is currently an ED.D. candidate at St. John’s University, NY in Instructional Leadership and Curriculum Development.
We are looking forward to welcoming Ms. Bartz to Smithfield and introducing her to the community. Ms. Bartz will begin her tenure on July 1st.
We are most grateful to the members of the Screening Committee for the many hours they devoted to reviewing applications, interviewing candidates, and deliberating during the preliminary selection process. Their questions were always focused on finding the strongest candidates to serve as Superintendent of Schools in Smithfield based on the data from the district/community focus groups. Their insight, thoughtfulness, and respect for each of the candidates they interviewed reflected well on the Smithfield community. It was a pleasure to work with this group of truly dedicated people.
Respectfully submitted,
Virginia Harnois
Chair, Smithfield School Committee