Stamford Advocate.com: Starr's departure "had an element of surprise" to it

Lyons said the news of Starr's departure "had an element of surprise" to it, though Pia said he was not surprised.
"I've been doing this for a long time, and superintendents are always searching for another job. It's the nature of being a superintendent, pretty much. I learned that early on," Pia said. "Something like this is really too good to pass up. It's an unbelievable opportunity."
Starr's new post will place him in charge of Maryland's largest public school district, which serves 144,064 students, about 10 times as many as are in Stamford's schools.
While there has been tension between Starr and members of the Board of Education in recent months, Pia said he doubts that played a significant part in Starr's decision.
"If this was a small opportunity, the board dynamics would be truer," Pia said. "But the idea that this is a huge opportunity . . . even if he was really happy here, . . . (as a) a young guy with a young family -- he'd be silly not to take such an opportunity."
Starr said Tuesday he has not actively searched for jobs in the past year, adding "that doesn't mean people haven't contacted me about other positions."
"You always keep your options open. I don't quite know what actively searching means, but Montgomery County is such an incredible opportunity. I wasn't desperate, that I would take any job that comes along," he said.

Read more: http://www.stamfordadvocate.com/local/article/Starr-recommends-Hamilton-to-lead-schools-through-1353615.php#ixzz1KgG2cgft