Jennifer Byars Named Next Assistant Superintendent of Ledyard Schools

A press release from the Ledyard Board of Education:

At the Board of Education meeting Wednesday night, future Ledyard Public Schools Superintendent Cathy Laro Patterson introduced the next Assistant Superintendent of Ledyard Schools, Dr. Jennifer Pallon Byars.  Dr. Byars will begin her tenure in Ledyard in January 2014; Ms. Patterson officially assumes the role of Superintendent of Schools on Dec. 23.

Dr. Byars graduated from Smith College and has a master’s degree in Curriculum, Instruction and Science Education from the University of Virginia. She received her Doctorate from the University of Virginia in 2011, having completed a dissertation regarding School Leadership Actions to Support Differentiated Instruction. 

Her work as an educator includes seven years as a high school Earth Science, Biology and Chemistry teacher, which is particularly relevant given Ledyard’s work with the Next Generation Science Standards as well as the national AgriScience and Technology standards. She served three years as a high school administrator and for the past seven years has been an elementary administrator, spending six of those seven years in Ledyard public schools.

Patterson says, “In my professional experiences with Dr. Byars, I have seen first-hand her exemplary work ethic, sound judgment and sense of pride in her work.  Dr. Byars has exemplary technology skills, and, we look for her to tap into her rich science background to further advance our well-established science, AgriScience, and engineering programs at the high school.  I am extremely pleased to present a candidate of her caliber to the Board. ”

In her letter to the hiring committee, Dr. Byars stated, “I take a great deal of pride in the accomplishment of Ledyard School District-I am proud to say that I was a principal in Ledyard and would embrace the opportunity to be your Assistant Superintendent.”