East Hampton School Superintendent To Retire; New Pick Announced

EAST HAMPTON, NY — The year ahead will bring new changes to the East Hampton school district as Superintendent of Schools Richard Burns has announced his plans to retire.

The East Hampton Union Free Board of Education discussed publicly a leadership succession plan at their Jan. 7 meeting. "Anticipating key retirements, the board has worked together for months on a plan to keep the district on course with a strong leadership team," the BOE said in a release Wednesday.

Plans include the filling of four key positions over the next two years, based on announced and anticipated retirements and departures. Assistant Superintendent Dr. Robert Tymann has announced his retirement effective July 17, 2020 — and Burns informed the board of his plans to retire at the end of the 2021 school year.

To that end, East Hampton High School Principal Adam Fine will assume the role of assistant superintendent, effective with Tymann's retirement. Fine has been chosen by the board to assume the role of superintendent when Burns retires in 2021.

Fine, the BOE said, will spend the 2020 to 2021 school year working closely with Burns. In addition, the BOE will begin interviewing candidates in January to fill the assistant superintendent for business position vacated by Jerel Cokley in October. The BOE will also commence a search for applicants to fill the position of East Hampton High School principal.

“The district has been guided by an outstanding leadership team, which has worked together to expand academic opportunities and achievement in our school district for nearly 10 years,” said BOE president JP Foster. “We are extremely grateful we’ve had a strong, stable team for this long. The board’s goal is to continue our forward progress by putting in place a long-term plan for continued excellence,” he added.

The board is expected to vote to extend Burns’ contract through June 30, 2021 and accept Tymann’s letter of retirement, the BOE said.

Tymann, the BOE said, has served the district for eight years. His accomplishments have included leading district efforts to "improve and expand professional development for teachers and improve instructional practices for the benefit of students," the BOE said. He was also instrumental in introducing key new academic programs, including the middle school science Olympiad program and district-wide coding classes.

“We are grateful to Dr. Tymann for his dedication and commitment to the students of East Hampton,” said Burns. “He has been a strong partner and valued colleague. We wish him the best in his well-earned retirement."

Fine has served as East Hampton High School principal for the past 10 years. Under his leadership the school has developed a "robust" mental health curriculum, implemented an AP Capstone program, added new career-focused classes, and shifted to quarterly exams to increase valuable instructional time, the BOE said.

“While it is somewhat bittersweet for me to leave the high school, I am honored to continue to serve the East Hampton community in a new capacity,” Fine said. “I am fortunate to be a part of
this community, and am grateful for the board’s confidence in me."