Community, board and mayor honor Superintendent Michael LaSouza at final School District of the Chathams meeting

The School District of the Chathams Board of Education and members of the community honored Superintendent Michael LaSouza at his final public board meeting, presenting a mayoral resolution and a series of tributes that highlighted his long tenure and initiatives.

Board member Anne Weber opened the remarks noting that the meeting was LaSouza's last, citing his contributions to curriculum expansion, mental-health supports, full-day kindergarten and facility upgrades. "Mike has been an extremely forward thinking and very student centered for his entire time here," Weber said, listing new courses, library collections and performing-arts achievements introduced during his leadership.

Mayor Carolyn Dempsey read a borough resolution thanking LaSouza for 24 years of service to the district, and citing roles LaSouza held in statewide and county superintendent organizations, the district's highest rankings and his leadership during COVID. The resolution observed that LaSouza "developed programs to support student mental health, expanded special education programs, [and] successfully defended and strengthened history and social studies courses."

Several residents and elected officials offered brief remarks praising LaSouza's service. Justin Strickland, the borough council liaison to the board, said an anecdote about running with the superintendent illustrated his habit of overdelivering. Former board member Matt Gilfillan and long-time resident Bill Heap also offered thanks for LaSouza's leadership during difficult moments such as the pandemic and for his role guiding facility projects.

LaSouza responded that the tributes were "totally unnecessary, and I didn't expect it," and thanked colleagues, former and current board members and his family. He described his career trajectory in the district and reflected that the superintendent can only be as effective as the board allows: "I think a superintendent can only be as good as the board of education will allow the superintendent to be."

Speakers repeatedly credited LaSouza's focus on student-centered decision-making, curricular innovation (including Holocaust and genocide studies, American Sign Language and other courses), and on steering the district through the COVID-19 pandemic while prioritizing in-person instruction when possible. The meeting concluded with a commemorative plaque presented by the board and borough officials.