Dr. Kim Hapken, Assistant Superintendent of Special Services for the Ridgefield Public Schools Announces Retirement

Dr. Kim Hapken, Assistant Superintendent of Special Services for the Ridgefield Public Schools, has announced her retirement, effective August 12, 2018.

In her two years of service to the Ridgefield Public Schools, Dr. Hapken has played a key role in improving the district’s special services department as an advocate for all students with disabilities. Her comprehensive approach to special education included the strategic professional development of both special and general education staff in order to improve outcomes for students and forging positive relationships with families. Dr. Hapken was also responsible for developing the Unified Sports program at Ridgefield High School that will soon expand to the middle schools.

Dr. Hapken began her professional career as a speech-language pathologist in 1980 and in 1984 she joined Waterbury Hospital in Waterbury, CT where she created the Speech-Language Pathology Department and oversaw the professional development of doctors, nurses and medical staff in this area. She worked in the schools of Naugatuck, CT, and Regional School District #6 in Litchfield, CT, before beginning her 16 year career in administration in Bristol, CT, where she served in the capacity of Assistant

Supervisor of Special Services, Acting Deputy Superintendent, and eventually Director of Special Services. In that time she also worked as an adjunct professor at Central Connecticut State University where in 2014 she received her doctorate in Educational Leadership. Her professional dedication led her to serve on numerous committees within and beyond her district to improve practices and community understanding of the special services student.

In her letter to the district, Dr. Hapken acknowledged the hard work of an “incredibly talented and dedicated staff” and that she will remain with the district until August 12th to assist in the transition of a new special services leader. The comprehensive and thorough process to fill this vacancy will begin immediately and include stakeholder feedback and input.

Dr. Miller congratulates Dr. Hapken for a long and successful career in special education, both within Ridgefield and her prior districts. “I have enjoyed working with Dr. Hapken. She has brought steady leadership to an important domain in our district and she will be missed. I wish her all the happiness in her retirement.“

Please join the Ridgefield Public Schools in thanking Dr. Hapken for her service to our educational community and wishing her a happy retirement from an extraordinary career in education.

For more information on Ridgefield Public Schools, please visit our website at www.ridgefield.org.