Mark Solomon
Mark Solomon, principal of Scotland Elementary School, is retiring after 10 years of service in the Ridgefield Public Schools.
“I was originally going to work five more years and get to the 50-year mark — that would have really been something,” said Mr. Solomon, who will retire in June after spending 45 years in education. “But I don’t want to work until I’m 71, so it was really now or five years from now, and I chose now.”
Mr. Solomon wrote a pair of letters, one to parents and one to students, last week, announcing his decision after contemplating it since September.
He notified Superintendent Deborah Low in November, but waited to make the announcement public until after the holidays.
Ms. Low, who will also be retiring effectively at the end of the 2013-14 school year, recognized Mr. Solomon for his “positive energy and dedication.”
“Mr. Solomon created a ‘happy’ school reputation at Scotland Elementary and inspired a love of learning among his students,” Ms. Low said. “We are grateful to Mr. Solomon. His leaving will be a loss to the district, but we also wish him well on his retirement.”
He called his 10 years at Scotland “the best years” of his professional career.
“I don’t have bad words for anyone — everyone I ever worked with in Ridgefield was very dedicated and very supportive,” he said. “The person after me is going to step into a great position and find out quickly what a great place this is to work.”
Mr. Solomon wrote to parents that “it is only a coincidence” his decision came “directly on the heels of the superintendent’s announcement.”
“They are two independent decisions,” he wrote. “I truly love Scotland School, its staff, students and families, but I believe this is the right decision at the right time. …
“I knew when I came to Scotland School it would be my last full-time principalship,” he added. “What I didn’t know is how wonderful these 10 years would be.”
Mr. Solomon previously served as principal of Harrison Avenue Elementary School in Westchester County.
He said he had a choice of positions in Fairfield County in 2004 and choose Ridgefield because of the district’s great reputation and the town’s passionate community.
“I knew that Ridgefield and Scotland was the perfect match for me,” he said. “I have not regretted that decision, not for a single day, in the last 10 years.”
When asked for his top accomplishment at Scotland, Mr. Solomon immediately mentioned the school’s implementation of the Ridgefield Intensive Special Education (RISE) program in 2011, which has been carried over to Ridgebury Elementary School this year.
As for fondest memories, he said “the daily interaction with all the children and the staff is what I will remember forever and what I will miss the most next fall.”
He added that he’d like to continue working in education part-time as either an adjunct college professor or a mentor to student teachers.
“I’d really like to spend more time with my family and my grandchildren,” he said. “I’d also like to get out of the cold Northeast during the winter months.”