Whether it’s the MLB, NFL, or NHL, the world of sports has been cast as a hypermasculine, hypercompetitive environment. While this atmosphere may build toughness and encourage physical fitness, its acceptance toward athletes who identify with the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community is still in need of practice.

Current principal at Haddam-Killingworth High School in Haddam, Connecticut, Donna Hayward, was named the 2023 National Principle of the Year by the Association of Secondary Principles in November, according to UConn Today. “I can’t remember the last 20 years a Connecticut principal won a national award,” Jeffery Wihbey, Superintendent of Regional School District 17 of Connecticut, said. Wihbey said there have been a lot of positive things revolving around her due to her accomplishment and mentioned that there was a lot of positivity surrounding the event as well.

A roomful of teachers, students and parents applauded as the announcement was made that Jordan Grossman will make a return to Canton as its next superintendent of schools. The announcement came at a special meeting of the Canton Board of Education. Grossman served as assistant principal at Canton High School, as principal of Canton Intermediate School, and as both an assistant superintendent and acting superintendent in Canton, and has been Granby’s superintendent of schools for the past three years. He will begin his new role July 1.

Throughout the academic year, the Neag School is proud to share the latest achievements of its faculty, staff, students, and alumni. Explore their most recent promotions, awards, retirements, publications, and more: Dean’s Office Department of Curriculum and Instruction and Teacher Education Department of Educational Leadership Department of Educational Psychology Faculty/Staff Students Alumni In Memoriam Dean’s Office […]

Donna Hayward of Haddam Killingworth High School has been names National Principal of the Year by the National Association of Secondary School Principals.

Emily Wicks with UConn’s Ballard Institute and Museum of Puppetry noticed the pandemic-era disruptions to kids’ social-emotional learning and development, and reached out to Sandy Chafouleas at the university’s Neag School of Education. Together they developed Feel Your Best Self, a puppet-centered program aimed at helping “strengthen the emotional well-being of elementary-aged children.”

Samuel Galloway has been named the town’s new school superintendent and, pending successful contract negotiations, will officially take over the post on April 1. Galloway will replace Paul C. Gagliarducci, who has served as interim superintendent since Brian P. Czapla retired in June after five years.

When Dan Crispino took the job overseeing the curriculum for elementary schools in Meriden, Connecticut, it was 2019 and he had a big problem to solve. The low-income district, where nearly 75% of kids receive free or reduced lunch, was struggling with math.

“When I would go into classrooms all over the district, I could see that kids didn’t seem as excited about math,” Crispino said. “And it didn’t surprise me that our results were depressed in math.”

Crispino said math classes were 60 minutes then. They are now 90 minutes, beginning with a 30-minute lesson followed by an hour-long block where every minute counts. The class is made up of tightly timed segments, where students and the teacher rotate through small groups.

Haddam-Killingworth High School Principal Donna Hayward is noted locally for being “truly a courageous leader.” Now, she is known on a completely different level as the National Principal of the Year for 2023, so named by the National Association of Secondary School Principals.

Throughout the academic year, the Neag School is proud to share the latest achievements of its faculty, staff, students, and alumni. Explore their most recent promotions, awards, retirements, publications, and more.