(11/01) During the October 15 Fairfield Area School District Board of School Directors meeting, board members announced the appointment of the school’s new Superintendent, Michael Adamek. Adamek previously served as the Assistant Superintendent in the Susquehanna Township School District and began his position in Fairfield on October 22. His position as Superintendent will be a three-year term with an annual salary of $120,000. Adamek replaces prior District Superintendent Karen Kugler, who retired at the end of September. Serving as Interim Superintendent was the school’s Business Manager, Caroline Royer.

"We saw some excellent candidates, and the Board is excited to begin working with Mr. Adamek as we develop a bold vision for the future of Fairfield," Board President Ian Strahler said. "He brings a range of leadership experiences and a deep desire to build a collaborative, participatory culture here in Fairfield. We believe he will be an excellent fit for the entire school community."

According to the school’s official announcement, Adamek received his bachelor’s degree from Penn State University in secondary education, social studies; a master’s degree from Shippensburg University in educational leadership and administration; and attended Widener University to participate in doctoral courses, doing all but his dissertation.

"I am excited to get started at Fairfield," Adamek said. "I have really enjoyed the entire process, and have met some wonderful people in the district. I will work closely with the administrators, teachers, staff, board members and the community and, together, we will continue to build on the great work in Fairfield and carry out the mission of the district: Students First!"

"As we see it, this is not the end of the process, but the beginning. Throughout the search, we have included others through surveys and by meeting the candidates," Strahler added. "We want to build on this momentum and continue to develop deep connections between the school and the community. We are grateful for the work of Ms. Kugler as our previous superintendent and wish her well. Also, special thanks to Ms. Caroline Royer for ‘pinch hitting’ as our acting superintendent during the process, and for her tremendous efforts as the district’s business manager."

The next step will be for the Board and Adamek to work on a comprehensive entry plan, superintendent evaluation process, and other strategic governance procedures to create the conditions for a successful future in Fairfield. The Board will continue working with their consultant, Tom Templeton with TEMPLETON Advantage, to develop goals and initiatives for the district. They will be continuing to interact  with the entire school community as part of that ‘visioning’ process, which is to provide opportunities to develop skills and empower students to become successful in the world in which they will live.