Hampton Elementary School Superintendent Samantha Sarli has resigned as of January 15, suddenly and without explanation. Dr. Sarli was hired in July of 2022, initially for a starting salary of $61,585, and then accepted the board’s offer of an additional $5,969 to help compensate for insurance. In June of 2023 she requested and was granted a three month leave of absence, returning in October of 2023.

Dr. Sarli listed her accomplishments in her letter of resignation: becoming a part of the Science of Reading Network Improvement Community which accelerated teachers’ technique and selected a new reading curriculum; strengthening building security; receiving and applying a multi-media security grant to upgrade security systems; creating a collaborative interview process in hiring a new principal; collaborating with the Partners for Educational Leadership to establish a plan and goal of capacity building related to belonging and equity training to the board and staff. Her tenure, however, was also plagued with two discrimination grievances filed with the Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities, one which was settled in the complainant’s favor and the other which is reportedly pending, and two complaints filed with the Freedom of Information Commission, one resolved with a written apology from the Board of Education; the other, which challenged Dr. Sarli’s presence in executive sessions, is still pending.

The school board will be conducting a search for a new superintendent in the near future. In the meantime, Andrew Skarynski was appointed by the school board at its January 24 meeting, and will serve as interim superintendent.