Copyright Joliet, IL Patch
The Board of Education unanimously voted to appoint a permanent superintendent Tuesday night. DARIEN, CT — Earlier this month, the Darien Board of Education approved specifications and qualities the school community wanted to see in the next superintendent as the district planned to hold a national search to find a permanent replacement. Some of those qualities included setting high standards, being visible, holding others accountable, leading with confidence, conviction, courage and integrity, with good communication skills and the ability to maximize the potential of every student. It turns out the school board didn't have to look far to find a new leader. The school board on Tuesday night voted unanimously to appoint Interim Superintendent Dr. Eric Byrne as the permanent superintendent of Darien Public Schools. "It's an honor to have been selected to serve as the superintendent of the Darien Public Schools," Byrne said after his appointment, thanking the board for the opportunity. Byrne came out of retirement to serve as the interim leader beginning July 1 following the retirement of Dr. Alan Addley after the last school year. "It's been a privilege to be a part of this district for the last four months, and I'm excited to continue to work alongside our incredible administrators, our dedicated faculty and staff, our supportive community, and the board, to make Darien the very best district we can be," Byrne added. As an educator, Byrne said he believes students "must remain at the center of all that we do." "Our curriculum and programs should not only reflect who they are today, but also who they have the potential to become," Byrne said. "As our district continues to grow and evolve, we will create meaningful opportunities for students to have a voice in our work, ensuring they see themselves reflected in our classrooms and feel a deep sense of belonging in every school building. This will be the foundation of our path forward." Before coming to Darien, Byrne served as superintendent of the Rye (NY) City School District from 2017 to 2025. Byrne holds a doctoral degree in educational leadership and administration from Fordham University, and he began his career as a high school science teacher in New York City public schools. Over the years, Byrne has served as an assistant principal, elementary school principal, and assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction. Darien BOE Chair Jill McCammon said the board has seen all of the qualities it desired in Byrne. "True leaders bring out the best in everyone else. It's about their behavior and the way that behavior cascades through our district," McCammon said. "When we look around, we as board members feel supported and confident, and we hear and see that our staff are happy and performing well, our administrators and our teachers are thriving, and our families are feeling supported. And we're thrilled to have you here with us." Fellow board members, Sara Parent and Dennis Maroney, co-chaired the superintendent search committee, which participated in numerous forums, focus groups and surveys with administrators, staff and the community over several months. The school board also hired School Leadership LLC to spearhead the superintendent search. "We began this process back on April 7 when Dr. Byrne came in to interview for the position. The excitement when he walked out of this room was palpable," Parent said. "Over the past seven months, our board and community has worked together to plan exactly what we wanted in a leader. As it turned out, we did not have to look far," Parent noted. "The person who met every single one of those qualities Jill just read was already here, leading our district with dedication, integrity and heart." Parent thanked the community for participating in the process to find a new leader. Maroney said the board was "excited, enthralled, elated, galvanized, and even unified," following Byrne's hiring. "We could not be happier," Maroney said. "We found a perfect match who is already sitting in the chair." Byrne will hold his first "Fireside Chat" on Nov. 12 at 7 p.m. at Holmes School. The community is invited to hear directly from him about his vision for the future of the school district.
