Morgaen Donaldson, a professor at the University of Connecticut, said the initial buy-in followed by pushback isn’t surprising, pointing to her own research in New Haven. To some, aspects of the initiative “might be worth endorsing at an abstract level,” she said. “But then when the rubber hit the road … people started to resist.”

Eastern Middle School (EMS) Principal Ralph F. Mayo was unanimously named Interim Superintendent of Schools, effective July 28, the Greenwich Board of Education announced. Mayo was selected during a special meeting of the board and will replace exiting Superintendent Dr. Jill Gildea.

When Amanda Powell was in eighth grade in Bridgeport her yearbook picture had a space marked “future plans.” Powell’s said “teacher” and that’s just what she became. Now Powell, who started her teaching career at Bloomfield High School seven years ago, can add “teacher of the year.”

In a nutshell, PBIS is an approach to addressing student behavior, a sort of scaffolding upon which teachers and administrators build practices to prevent problems and provide the right help for kids who need it. “We focus on the social and emotional success of kids but we do it in the context of academic success,” George Sugai told a packed auditorium at Southwest High School earlier this week.

Neag School alumna Kristina Wallace has been named associate principal of Naugatuck High School.

It’s not often that a student who dropped out of high school goes on to pursue a Ph.D., but that’s the story of Neag School of Education doctoral student Kristi Kaeppel. Kaeppel, who studies Adult Learning in the Learning, Leadership, and Educational Policy program, runs a blog called “That Wasn’t on the Syllabus” for the Graduate Certificate in College Instruction program as a graduate assistant. Her blog posts on college education trends and issues included one very personal to her experience: “What Being a High School Dropout Taught Me about Teaching.”

As part of her Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame acceptance speech Saturday night, UConn associate head coach Chris Dailey joked that coach Geno Auriemma sometimes accuses her of alerting referees to his use of foul language, thereby creating the possibility that he’ll get ejected so she can run the team. Not true, Dailey said. Also not true: “A lot of people think my full-time job is holding him back [on the sideline],” she said.

James E. “Jim” Main, who served the University of Nebraska for more than 17 years in various business and financial capacities, will bring his rich experience and background to the University of North Texas Dallas as executive vice president for administration & chief financial ffficer.

After numerous rounds of interviews and evaluating candidates, Peter Dart was recently named the new principal of Dorothy C. Goodwin Elementary School in Mansfield, Conn. With an extensive background in teaching for 22 years, as well as being a principal for six years, Dart was a strong candidate who caught the attention of teachers, parents and administrators early on.

Manchester High School English teacher Kelly Shea, described by a colleague as a “rock star,” has been named district teacher of the year.