Date: Fri 16-Apr-1999

Publication: Bee

Author: CURT

Quick Words:

Board-of-Education-Gordon

Full Text:

S. Earl Gordon Fills School Board Vacancy

BY ANN MARIE COHEN

The Newtown Board of Education voted unanimously to seat Republican S. Earl

Gordon as a new board member. Mr Gordon fills the position left vacant by

Susan Hills, who resigned from the board earlier this month after six years of

service.

Mr Gordon lives with his family on 168 Brushy Hill Road. His two sons attend

Middle Gate School where Earl Gordon has been actively involved. He has served

as room parent and as the parent representative on the 5/6 School Committee.

Earl Gordon has worked in marketing and sales for the past 18 years. His

privately owned business, Thin Air Graphics, is located in Monroe. The new

board member believes he has the entrepreneurial spirit to create success when

faced with limited resources. He says he has worked as a team player in his

profession, while honoring the contributions of the team.

In addition to his professional accomplishments, Earl Gordon has been involved

in community activities. He was a member and president of Newtown Hook and

Ladder for three years. His work through Trinity Church with a youth and men's

study group has also filled much of Mr Gordon's time.

When asked by board members what attributes he would bring to the board, Mr

Gordon replied that being president of his own company made him a good

listener. He is able to analyze his customer's needs and these analytical

skills would serve him well on the board. His company was started in 1997.

Mr Gordon said, "I feel this change in employment has given me more time to

devote to children. I see their needs and have cultivated the interest to

become more involved."

Elaine McClure referred to past board member Susan Hills; "You will be filling

some big shoes. Mrs Hill had no special interests. She tried to represent all

children. Do you think you will be able to represent all children?"

Mr Gordon replied that although he had a self-motivated interest in seeing

Newtown's schools prosper for his own two sons, he did not consider the board

as a forum to further his own interests, by any means. My priority is to

understand what the board does. I would like to see Newtown continue to

attract and replace teachers as the need exists.

Mr Gordon concluded, "Interesting times lie ahead of us. We need to maintain

our competitiveness as a school system."