Newtown Superintendent says she plans to take new job

STRATFORD, Conn. (WTNH) -- Not quite three months after Sandy Hook and the School Superintendent Janet Robinson is leaving Newtown to take the same position in Stratford but not everyone in Stratford is happy about it.

She captured the nation's attention in the wake of the Sandy Hook shooting and even made politicians cry.

"This loving little elementary school was helpless in the face of this assault. 20 beautiful and innocent little first graders were lost that day in a senseless act. They were no match for a troubled person with an AR-15," said Robinson.

But as Newtown moves forward from tragedy, the schools superintendent Janet Robinson is moving on.

"It is our intentions to offer the position," said Stratford School Board Chair Gavin Forrester III.

The Stratford Board of Education confirms Robinson will now lead its schools. The board chairman says the decision was made before the tragic Newtown shooting.

"Those individuals who may try to associate in any way shape or form that Dr. Robinson was offered the position as a result of her activities or actions after the incident that day, that would not be accurate," said Forrester.

Some Stratford parents are not happy with the pick. They say Robinson's pre-Sandy Hook reputation was anything but positive.

"The teachers just had just not very good, very nice things to say about her. Some things that were promised to them that didn't come to fruition and just the distrust and some of the things that she would say to one group but then to another group it would just be the exact opposite so these are the things that have trickled out to parents in other school districts," said Cyndi Casinelli a Stratford parent.

Robinson's term in Newtown was set to expire in 2014 and there are reports her contract would not be renewed.

"I think this reputation that she has made for herself should not just be brushed under the carpet because of what happened," said Casinelli.

The board says there were 20 applicants for superintendent and they eventually narrowed it down to Robinson.

"It was based upon her credentials and criteria. It was based upon the academic performance of Newtown, personal interviews that the search committee did," said Forrester.

"I think it would have been nice to have known or been asked or been a part of that process," said Casinelli.