Tolland Board honors Dr. D. Burns as she retires after 37 years leading district literacy work

The Tolland Board of Education opened its meeting by honoring Dr. D. Burns, who announced she is retiring after 37 years in education and years of service to the district’s literacy work. A board member described Burns as a “jack of all trades” for reading instruction who helped put phonics programs and dyslexia supports in place and who participated in research and presentations with national colleagues.

Dr. Burns responded briefly, thanking colleagues and saying, “It’s just been wonderful to be here,” and noting her decades in the classroom and administration. The board credited Burns with helping raise reading outcomes and training teachers through instructional rounds and curriculum leadership.

Superintendent Dr. Willet said the district will post the curriculum supervisor position and follow the district’s screening, interview and performance‑task process; interim coverage will be provided by other supervisors and by scheduled inter‑reading trainings, and the superintendent estimated a finalist could be in place in about six weeks. The board discussed whether members would participate in the final interview(s); Dr. Willet advised the final appointment follows the district’s established executive‑session hiring procedure.

The board framed Burns’s departure as a loss to the district but said her work has created programs and training that will continue during the transition. The superintendent said some temporary compensation may be offered to staff taking on additional duties during the recruitment period.