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.

Following a national search, Sterling College has appointed Yvette McDonnell as its dean of community and work. In her new role, McDonnell will oversee a broad range of programs and services that support the well-being and holistic education of Sterling College students.

The University of Connecticut will start offering what is believed to be the only full teacher preparation program in Mandarin Chinese in January. Already with what officials say is a robust World Language program, UConn would include Mandarin to a program that already turns out teachers of French, Spanish, German, Italian and Latin.

Kristi Carriero has been named Assistant Principal of New Canaan High School. She will begin her new position on July 1.

How can teachers and schools promote creativity and innovation through education? Ronald Beghetto suggests structured uncertainty in this TEDxUConn talk, which took place this past spring in Storrs.