Dr. Paul Freeman Named School Superintendent Of The Year

GUILFORD, CT — Schools superintendent Dr. Paul Freeman was named Connecticut's 2020-2021 Superintendent of the Year by the Connecticut Association of Public School Superintendents.

Freeman, described as a "Connecticut educator, innovator and champion of equity in learning for more than 25 years," was so honored in part because of his "equity and social justice work" which includes his work to stop the Guilford High School's use of a Native American mascot and for "working to help teachers to be more culturally responsive in their instruction."

Last summer, after advisory opinions from the town's Human Rights Commission, the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation, and myriad Indian mascot experts, Freeman made a recommendation to the Guilford Board of Education: "Immediately discontinue the use of Indian as Guilford mascot."

The board voted unanimously to drop the school's Indian mascot and nickname during a special meeting live-streamed on YouTube and watched by hundreds.

At the time, Freeman said he wanted to "honor the voices" of students who said they felt "uncomfortable outside Guilford" wearing clothing with the Indian logo.

"They are embarrassed to be wearing a Native American name when it has been made clear that Native peoples do not want to be identified" in that way.

"Students have asked us to cease this practice," Freeman said at the time.

"I'm not suggesting we remove it to avoid talking about race. In fact, this is only one step in a process ... an emotional step for many but I want to highlight the fact that this is not the end of a discussion. It's the beginning."

The district had by then already begun a curricula audit around Native history, race, equity and culturally responsive instruction, he said, noting, "This is just one step in ongoing work."

"As the superintendent for last 10 years, it is my responsibility that this did not come sooner," he said as he thanked the "constituents who were brave enough and persistent enough and those young current students who engaged in this conservation back in September who began meeting with me, and recent graduates and parents and teachers who have pointed out that this is late in coming. I accept responsibility for the lateness of this."

'Equity and social justice concerns have taken on such importance for our country.'

"It is an honor to be named Superintendent of the Year, especially in this most unusual of years," Freeman said. "To represent my friends and colleagues who do this important work across Connecticut, in the face of this pandemic, in a moment when concerns and conversations about equity and social justice concerns have taken on such importance for our country, and for our children, is truly humbling. I cannot think of any more important place than school right now, and to be recognized for the part that I play in making schools safe and healthy places for kids to learn
and grow and thrive... this really means a lot."

Before coming to Guilford, Freeman served as superintendent of the Griswold Public
Schools, and prior to that, he worked as an assistant principal, principal, and assistant
superintendent in the East Lyme School system.

He began his career in education as a teacher of English language arts at the middle and high school levels in the Amity School district.

Watch the Connecticut Association of School Superintendents presentation of the honor to Freeman below:

Recent educational presentations by Freeman include his participation as a virtual forum panelist at "How is Equity Online Different from Equity on the Ground" with the Institute for Learning, and a "Train the Trainer: School and Program Management" workshop with aspiring principals and superintendents, held in conjunction with the University of Connecticut in Amman, Jordan.

Freeman is an adjunct instructor at the University of Connecticut in the Neag School of Education. Among his numerous professional activities in support of public education in Connecticut and nationwide, he serves as co-chair of Connecticut's COVID-19 Learn from Home Task Force and is a member of the National Advisory Board at the University of Michigan's National Center for School Safety.

"Dr. Freeman is an innovative instructional leader deeply committed to the success of all
children. He is generous in his willingness to share Guilford's best practices in the areas of
student-centered learning, college and career readiness and equity with colleagues from across
Connecticut and beyond. He prioritizes strong connections with his students, faculty, staff,
families, board of education, community and colleagues," Kathleen Greider, past President
of the Connecticut Association of Public School Superintendents and Superintendent of
Farmington Public Schools, said about Freeman.