East Windsor School Board Chairman Wished Well After More Than 10 years

The East Windsor Public Schools community said goodbye to Board Chairman John Pica-Sneeden at a retirement party Thursday.

After 10 1/2 years on the board Pica-Sneeden decided to not run for re-election this year. There were words of praise, jokes and lots of hugs from friends, family and colleagues during the party at Merlot on the Water.

Speakers such as Superintendent of Schools Theresa Kane, Broad Brook Elementary School Principal Laura Foxx, Director of Curriculum Irene Parisi and East Windsor Middle School Principal Kimberly Hellerich told attendees of Pica-Sneeden efforts and how they enjoyed working with him.

They spoke of his support of the schools, school activities and the East Windsor Education Foundation.

When it was his turn to speak Pica-Sneeden joked that he’d waiting 10 years say what he was about to say.

“I really don’t know what to say,” he said.

Pica-Sneeden said during his tenure the board replaced 20 administrators, from assistant principals to principals to superintendents. He said the board has had to deal with a lot of rocks in the road, good and bad people.

“I was lucky to have a good board,” Pica-Sneeden said. “We’ve moved mountains, we’ve done good things here in East Windsor.”

When he was appointed to the board 10 1/2 years ago, Pica-Sneeden said he got involved  because his third son was in the school system and he was concerned about the schools. He said he would not have been able to devote the time he did to the schools without the support of his family.

Pica-Sneeden also took time to thank Carol Fox, director of special education, who spent the 2010-11 school year as acting superintendent. Fox did a good job under tough circumstances, he said.

“She was doing two jobs at the same time,” he said. “She had to deal with a lot of stuff _ it’s called snow.”

Pica-Sneeden joked that when he saw her at the beginning of this school year, she had a smile from ear to ear because she was no longer acting superintendent.

Pica-Sneeden said he believes now the school system has the right administrators in place along with a staff of teachers who are dedicated to East Windsor students. He said in her short tenure with the schools, Kane has shown she’s dedicated to the school system.

“I’m leaving this district in good hands,” Pica-Sneeden said. “ I’m grateful to Dr. Kane. She’s doing a phenomenal job.”

Pica-Sneeden said he plans to go back to teaching, writing and relaxing.

“Well, not relaxing,” he said. “I’m really not good at that.”