Dr. Ernest Emmett Weeks
Ernie Weeks was born in Storrs, Connecticut, February 16, 1921, the son of Ellsworth and Helen (Young) Weeks. He was reared in Windham and attended the Windham public schools. In high school, he lettered in football and basketball, and was a member of the Drama Club, Glee Club, and yearbook committee. He pursued a general studies academic course but saw no opportunity to attend college due to financial constraints. However, the high school athletic director strongly encouraged him to attend college, believing that Ernie was a good candidate for higher education. With money from the Grange Loan Fund and the National Youth Administration, as well as jobs on campus and summer work, Ernie was able to finance his education at Willimantic State Teacher's College, receiving a bachelor's degree in 1943. During college he played basketball all four years (co-captain in his junior and senior years) and helped his team win the Northeast Title in 1941, 1942, and 1943. He also continued his interest in drama and sang in Glee Club. Between his junior and senior years, Ernie had the opportunity to take a road trip across the United States and work as a migrant worker. This experience was a revelation as he learned how people live outside the Northeast.
Enlisting in the army in September 1942, Ernie was required to carry a heavier course load to be allowed to complete his senior year. He reported for basic training in the spring of 1943 and served as an instructor and instructor supervisor during World War II. In 1946 he joined the Air Reserve and remained in the reserves, retiring as a major.
Ernie's first teaching assignment was in Windsor Locks, where in addition to teaching, he was also the basketball coach and athletic director. From that time until 1956, he taught in several other Connecticut School Districts. He received both his master's degree (1952) and sixth-year certificate in administration (1958) from the University of Connecticut. His first administrative job was as principal of Windham Center and North Windham schools. In 1964, Ernie earned a doctorate in early childhood reading from the University of Connecticut; and in 1965 he opened the elaborate state-of the-art King Street School in Danbury, where he was named Assistant Superintendent the following year.
The Branford Board of Education hired Dr. Ernest Emmett Weeks as Superintendent of Schools in 1969, a politically unsettled time locally as well as nationally. His tenure of eleven years would face challenging periods of negotiations, arbitration, picket lines, and threatened strikes; but through it all his calm intelligence, good nature, tolerance, and ability to listen remained unshakable. Moreover, he was able to ensure progress for the school system even in difficult times. Branford Intermediate School opened on his watch; changes in the high school brought it nearer to accreditation; and renovation of the Eades Street School not only added another dimension to grade alignment but also improved the students' learning environment. Ernie also contributed greatly to raising the level of professionalism in the system in a variety of ways: professional development, system-wide curriculum development, personnel policy revision, and parent orientation programs. Always committed to doing what was best for the students, he recognized individual learning needs and implemented programs for both gifted and challenged students.
Ernie's professional affiliations included Area Cooperative Educational Services (ACES), Connecticut Association of Boards of Education (CABE), Connecticut Administrators' School Association (president, representative, and Executive Board), CPTV educational services, Elementary School Principals Association (a founder in 1958), Greater New Haven Area Superintendents Association, New England Development Council, National Education Association (lifetime member), and Phi Delta Kappa (national educational fraternity).
Ernie's family has produced five generations of teachers, beginning with his grandmother and mother; and it is no wonder that descendants have followed his example and commitment, with one daughter, four grandchildren and one grand-niece pursuing careers in education. He gave unstintingly of himself to his work, sometimes at the expense of his personal life. Ernie Weeks possessed that rare ability to see the best in everything, and the myriad letters he received upon his retirement note that he was a gentleman ...truly a gentle-man.
Enlisting in the army in September 1942, Ernie was required to carry a heavier course load to be allowed to complete his senior year. He reported for basic training in the spring of 1943 and served as an instructor and instructor supervisor during World War II. In 1946 he joined the Air Reserve and remained in the reserves, retiring as a major.
Ernie's first teaching assignment was in Windsor Locks, where in addition to teaching, he was also the basketball coach and athletic director. From that time until 1956, he taught in several other Connecticut School Districts. He received both his master's degree (1952) and sixth-year certificate in administration (1958) from the University of Connecticut. His first administrative job was as principal of Windham Center and North Windham schools. In 1964, Ernie earned a doctorate in early childhood reading from the University of Connecticut; and in 1965 he opened the elaborate state-of the-art King Street School in Danbury, where he was named Assistant Superintendent the following year.
The Branford Board of Education hired Dr. Ernest Emmett Weeks as Superintendent of Schools in 1969, a politically unsettled time locally as well as nationally. His tenure of eleven years would face challenging periods of negotiations, arbitration, picket lines, and threatened strikes; but through it all his calm intelligence, good nature, tolerance, and ability to listen remained unshakable. Moreover, he was able to ensure progress for the school system even in difficult times. Branford Intermediate School opened on his watch; changes in the high school brought it nearer to accreditation; and renovation of the Eades Street School not only added another dimension to grade alignment but also improved the students' learning environment. Ernie also contributed greatly to raising the level of professionalism in the system in a variety of ways: professional development, system-wide curriculum development, personnel policy revision, and parent orientation programs. Always committed to doing what was best for the students, he recognized individual learning needs and implemented programs for both gifted and challenged students.
Ernie's professional affiliations included Area Cooperative Educational Services (ACES), Connecticut Association of Boards of Education (CABE), Connecticut Administrators' School Association (president, representative, and Executive Board), CPTV educational services, Elementary School Principals Association (a founder in 1958), Greater New Haven Area Superintendents Association, New England Development Council, National Education Association (lifetime member), and Phi Delta Kappa (national educational fraternity).
Ernie's family has produced five generations of teachers, beginning with his grandmother and mother; and it is no wonder that descendants have followed his example and commitment, with one daughter, four grandchildren and one grand-niece pursuing careers in education. He gave unstintingly of himself to his work, sometimes at the expense of his personal life. Ernie Weeks possessed that rare ability to see the best in everything, and the myriad letters he received upon his retirement note that he was a gentleman ...truly a gentle-man.