I am delighted to be the Superintendent of the Portland Public Schools, appointed by the Board of Education in late July, 2014. I began in mid August after a nine-year tenure as Superintendent of Schools in New Hartford, a prekindergarten through grade 6 school district associated with Regional School District 7 in the northwest corner of Litchfield County.
I received my Bachelors degree from the University of Massachusetts, a Masters Degree from Central Connecticut State University, an Advanced Graduate Degree in Educational Leadership from the University of Connecticut and a Doctorate in Education from the University of Massachusetts in 2002.
My career in public education began in 1979 as a student teacher on the Taos Indian Pueblo in Taos, New Mexico. Upon returning to New England, I became a tutor for students with special education needs at the Amherst Regional Junior High School in Amherst, Massachusetts, while completing my studies at the University. After graduating in 1981, I was appointed to a position of elementary teacher in the Windsor Public Schools where I taught for more than eight years. It was a wonderful experience highlighted by being named Windsor’s Teacher of the Year in 1985. In 1989, I left the classroom and went on to be a principal in several Massachusetts and Connecticut schools over a 17-year period, concluding my building leadership role in a K-8 school in Sharon, Connecticut.
In 2005, I began my role as the Superintendent of Schools in the New Hartford Public Schools. While in New Hartford, I was fortunate to work with an outstanding group of teachers, administrators and Board of Education members, who teamed with me building a commitment to teacher professional learning, rigor and relevance in the curriculum, procurement of grant funding for technology infrastructure and training, capital planning for our three buildings, and increased programming opportunities for students including full day kindergarten. In 2012 & 2013 our intermediate school, Ann Antolini School, earned the award of School of Distinction for Highest Overall Performance-Excelling, one of the few Connecticut elementary schools to receive the honor two years in a row.
Since my appointment here in Portland, as outlined in my transition plan, I have been meeting individually and in small groups with many parents, teachers, staff, administrators, as well as all of our Board members. I hear from many and see first hand that our Portland School Community offers the dedication and commitment to their students necessary for 21 Century learning. Having been here only a few months, I appreciate the very fine education that is occurring every day in each of our schools for Portland students. I will work hard to continue that legacy and will collaborate and cooperate with the Board of Education to ensure an outstanding continuum of teaching and learning throughout our pre-kindergarten through grade12 school system.
I have been married to my wife Mary for 35 years. Mary is currently a Spanish teacher at South Windsor High School in South Windsor, CT. We have raised 6 wonderful children, (five of whom have graduated college) and are now blessed with our first two grandchildren. In my “spare” time I enjoy working in my perennial gardens, riding long distances on my road bike, raising Labrador Retrievers, and cooking for family and friends.
I received my Bachelors degree from the University of Massachusetts, a Masters Degree from Central Connecticut State University, an Advanced Graduate Degree in Educational Leadership from the University of Connecticut and a Doctorate in Education from the University of Massachusetts in 2002.
My career in public education began in 1979 as a student teacher on the Taos Indian Pueblo in Taos, New Mexico. Upon returning to New England, I became a tutor for students with special education needs at the Amherst Regional Junior High School in Amherst, Massachusetts, while completing my studies at the University. After graduating in 1981, I was appointed to a position of elementary teacher in the Windsor Public Schools where I taught for more than eight years. It was a wonderful experience highlighted by being named Windsor’s Teacher of the Year in 1985. In 1989, I left the classroom and went on to be a principal in several Massachusetts and Connecticut schools over a 17-year period, concluding my building leadership role in a K-8 school in Sharon, Connecticut.
In 2005, I began my role as the Superintendent of Schools in the New Hartford Public Schools. While in New Hartford, I was fortunate to work with an outstanding group of teachers, administrators and Board of Education members, who teamed with me building a commitment to teacher professional learning, rigor and relevance in the curriculum, procurement of grant funding for technology infrastructure and training, capital planning for our three buildings, and increased programming opportunities for students including full day kindergarten. In 2012 & 2013 our intermediate school, Ann Antolini School, earned the award of School of Distinction for Highest Overall Performance-Excelling, one of the few Connecticut elementary schools to receive the honor two years in a row.
Since my appointment here in Portland, as outlined in my transition plan, I have been meeting individually and in small groups with many parents, teachers, staff, administrators, as well as all of our Board members. I hear from many and see first hand that our Portland School Community offers the dedication and commitment to their students necessary for 21 Century learning. Having been here only a few months, I appreciate the very fine education that is occurring every day in each of our schools for Portland students. I will work hard to continue that legacy and will collaborate and cooperate with the Board of Education to ensure an outstanding continuum of teaching and learning throughout our pre-kindergarten through grade12 school system.
I have been married to my wife Mary for 35 years. Mary is currently a Spanish teacher at South Windsor High School in South Windsor, CT. We have raised 6 wonderful children, (five of whom have graduated college) and are now blessed with our first two grandchildren. In my “spare” time I enjoy working in my perennial gardens, riding long distances on my road bike, raising Labrador Retrievers, and cooking for family and friends.