District 13 superintendent to retire

District 13 Superintendent Dr. Elizabeth Lison announced last week that she will retire at the end of the school year, ending her 38-year educational career.

Lison, who came to Valley Stream in 2003, said that it was a difficult decision to make, but that it’s time to move on. “It was tough because I don’t feel old enough to retire,” said Lison, 59. “But I do feel ready to take on the rest of my life challenges.”

Before coming to Valley Stream, Lison was an assistant superintendent in the Smithtown School District. That was where she met District 13 board Trustee Frank Chiachiere, who is serving as president this year. In Smithtown, Lison supervised the administrative interns, and Chiachiere did the same for Stony Brook University. When the superintendent position opened up in District 13, Chiachiere recommended that the search firm interview Lison.

“She was everything I hoped for,” he said. “She can look back very proudly on what she’s accomplished.”

Lison began her educational career in 1973 as an elementary school teacher in the Three Village School District in Suffolk County. She later became an assistant principal in Seaford before moving to central administration.

During her time in District 13, she said, she worked hard to strengthen the district’s curriculum, to raise test scores and to bring more technology into the classrooms. She said she is extremely proud of the leadership stability in the district — she has hired only one administrator during her seven-plus years, Linda Roth, the assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction.

None of the four principals had been in the district more than two years when Lison arrived, and none has left. “This leadership team has been together for so long,” she said, adding that she wishes the same stability for her successor.

Lison said she chose to make the announcement about her retirement now so there would be adequate time to find a replacement. “It’s one of the most important decisions the boards of education have to make,” she said.

Chiachiere said the first step will be to hire a search firm to recruit candidates to replace her. He said the board hopes to have a permanent replacement named by the time Lison leaves.

“She’s been a terrific superintendent,” Chiachiere said. “We are disappointed that she’s going.”

Although her retirement is less than nine months away, Lison said she isn’t getting ready to pack up her things just yet. There is a big agenda for 2010-11, she said, including dealing with the state testing changes and managing a budget through difficult financial times. “There’s so much to do in this school year,” she said.

Chiachiere, who described Lison as “the whole package,” noted that Lison is leaving at the end of her contract, which expires July 1, 2011. “There are other things that she would like to do with her life,” he said, “and I respect that.”

Upon retiring, Lison said, she would like to relax for a little while and visit friends around the country. She would also like to enjoy a cup of coffee while sitting down.