Pomperaug Regional
School District 15
286 Whittemore Road,
P.O. Box 395
Middlebury, CT 06762-0395
203-758-8258

REGION 15 NAMES SARJEANT AS INTERIM DIRECTOR OF FINE ARTS

Jane Sarjeant Will Begin One-Year Interim Position Immediately

September 26, 2003, Middlebury/Southbury—The Pomperaug Regional School District #15 school superintendent appointed Pomperaug High School art teacher Jane R. Sarjeant to fill the position of Interim Director of Fine Arts, a position vacated by Jack Zamary last month. The interim position is designed so administrators can reevaluate and strengthen the role of Director of Fine Arts and its responsibilities. The Region 15 Board of Education approved the appointment at their regular meeting held on September 22, 2003 at Memorial Middle School.

Mrs. Sarjeant will be filling a one-year, interim position. Since the position of Director of Fine Arts became vacant in August, there has been considerable discussion by various constituencies about how the position of Director of Fine Arts might be restructured. Several ideas have been proposed suggesting ways that other needs of the school system may be addressed by redefining the responsibilities of the Director of Fine Arts.

“After assessing the needs of the interim position, I made the decision that a very capable internal candidate would best service the program for the short term, that is, one year,” said Dr. Frank Sippy, Region 15 superintendent of schools. “Jane is an excellent candidate who will do a superlative job at providing continuity during this year of transition.”

Jane Sarjeant brings 25 years experience in public education to her new position, including 18 years within Region 15. During her five years as the art teacher at Pomperaug High School, she helped coordinate the District-wide art show held annually at the high school. She also taught Advanced Placement studio art at the high school. Mrs. Sarjeant has served as the art teacher at other Region 15 schools, including Long Meadow Elementary School, Pomperaug High School Alternative Education, and Middlebury Elementary School.

“Jane is not only an accomplished artist and master teacher, she has the organizational skills and desire to have a broader impact on our students,” said James Agostine, principal at Pomperaug High School. “Jane is well versed in curriculum development and design and has been active in staying abreast of and contributing to the State Department of Education’s curriculum initiatives in the Arts.”

Jack Zamary had held the title of Director of Fine Arts for three years before leaving in August to become principal at Middlebury Elementary School. The former principal of Middlebury Elementary School was Dr. Judith Faryniarz who is now Professor of Educational Leadership at Central Connecticut State University.

“I will do whatever I can during this interim period to help the teachers and administrators fine-tune their direction for the future of the Fine Arts department,” said Mrs. Sarjeant. “I am a lifelong student and lover of both art and music. My strongest desire now is to share that love with the children of Region 15.”