“Without edTPA, I believe my colleagues and I could better focus on attracting and supporting teachers into the shortage areas that already exacerbate the issues faced by many of our districts, especially those with high concentrations of students of color and students living in poverty,” says Violet Jiménez Sims, an assistant clinical professor at the Neag School of Education.

Congratulations to our Neag School alumni, faculty, staff, and students on their continued accomplishments inside and outside the classroom. If you have an accolade to share, we want to hear from you.

This month, the Neag School of Education announces new appointments to its leadership, welcomes three new faculty members, and also announces staff updates in the Dean’s Office.

Jason Irizarry, associate professor of curriculum and instruction, has been named the Neag School associate dean for academic affairs. He takes over this month for Joseph Madaus, who is resuming his faculty role to focus on recent research grants, including one focused on supporting academically talented students on the autism spectrum.

Professor Todd Campbell has been named head of the Department of Curriculum and Instruction, effective Jan. 1. He steps in following Suzanne Wilson’s return to faculty to focus on her role as the Neag Endowed Professor of Teacher Education.

Jenna Karvelis ’20 (ED), ’21 MA and Ajane Santora-Fyne ’20 (ED), ’21 MA, both students in the Neag School Integrated Bachelor’s/Master’s Program, have been named the recipients of the Neag School of Education Alumni Board Scholarship for 2020.

The Neag School of Education and its Alumni Board are proud to announce the 2020 Neag School Alumni Awards honorees. Seven outstanding graduates will be formally recognized at the School’s 22nd annual Alumni Awards Celebration on Saturday, March 14, 2020.

Vonetta Romeo-Rivers is the new Director of Teaching and Learning for Regional School District #10 as of Dec. 30, 2019. Before taking the new positition, Romeo-Rivers was the director of performance, evaluation and talent development for Manchester Public Schools.

Vallieres was one of the architects of a manufacturing training program in eastern Connecticut to meet the workforce needs of submarine maker Electric Boat and other employers. Over the past four years, the Manufacturing Pipeline Initiative, which has mainly targeted workers with no prior manufacturing experience, has placed in jobs 1,500 workers — 15 of them with Vallieres’ companies.

Former state legislator Kelvin Roldan will be starting a new job as deputy education commissioner in Rhode Island – focusing on reforming the troubled public schools in Providence.