It’s no secret that traditional intelligence tests often fail to capture the true essence of a student’s capabilities. Educational psychologist Joseph Renzulli, who has spent more than 40 years studying gifted education, notes, “The Achilles heel of gifted education has been its inability to adequately include children who do not fall into the nice, neat stereotype of good test-takers and lesson-learners — ethnic minorities, underachievers, children who live in poverty, and young people who show their potential in nontraditional ways.”

School officials did not have to go far when searching for a permanent superintendent, tabbing present assistant superintendent Dr. Jack Zamary as the town’s next top educator.

A new grant to support Connecticut teachers, the Rogers Educational Innovation Fund, has been established by the Neag School of Education thorough a legacy gift of $125,000 from Neag School Professor Emeritus Vincent Rogers. The expanded Rogers Educational Innovation Fund will provide a $5,000 grant annually in support of innovative projects carried out by teachers in Connecticut.

Superintendent Patricia Charles worked her last day in the district on Nov. 9, completing more than five years leading city schools through a period of turmoil, tightening budgets and financial uncertainty. Charles said during her tenure the district has made great progress in trimming costs, keeping special education students in the district and ensuring resources are distributed equally to students.

The Board of Education appointed Craig Creller as the district’s interim chief academic officer Tuesday night. Creller will serve in the role for the remainder of the 2017-18 academic year. Creller has served as the district’s K-12 mathematics instructional specialist for the past seven years. He is currently enrolled in the Neag School of Education Superintendent Leadership program at the University of Connecticut.

Amid calls to strengthen civic education, IES has funded several interventions that are leveraging technological innovation and game design to engage students.

Congratulations to Violet Sims, who has been elected to the New Britain Board of Education on the Democratic ticket.

University of Connecticut Professor Emeritus Vincent Rogers has announced an endowment to the University’s Neag School of Education, designating a legacy gift of $125,000 to expand the Rogers Educational Innovation Fund, according to the fund’s website. With the expansion, “The Rogers Award” will provide $5,000 annually to an elementary or middle school teacher in the state of Connecticut for use in the classroom, the fund’s website said.

Legendary UConn women’s soccer head coach Len Tsantiris ’77 (ED) has announced his retirement after 37 tremendous years at the helm. Tsantiris took UConn from its infant stages as a program and turned it into a national power.

Len Tsantiris saw it all. He started coaching girls soccer at E.O. Smith High School in 1977, just as Title IX was starting to make an impact on girls’ and women’s sports. And in 1981, he started coaching the fledgling UConn women’s soccer team. After 37 years, four national championship game appearances, seven Final Four appearances and over 500 wins, Tsantiris, 68, announced his retirement from UConn Tuesday.