Newark principals reassigned

After accepting, with regret, the resignation of Kelley School Principal Gary Brookins, Superintendent Bob Christmann has made administrative reassignments effective July 24.

Chris Mizro, principal of Lincoln School since 1991, will replace Brookins at Kelley

Kathleen Houser, principal at Perkins School for nearly three years, will replace Mizro at Lincoln.

And finally, Sue Achille, who has served as assistant principal of the Newark Middle School since November 1994, will replace Houser at Perkins.

These administrative changes will be in effect at least until Sept. 1, 2001.

Brookins resigned at the end of June to take a postition as an elementary principal in his hometown of Norwich.

According to Christmann, Brookins is such an 'outstanding administrator and visionary,' that whomever stepped into his Newark post 'would have to be able to fill his capable shoes.'

Christmann added, 'Without question, it was felt that Mizro, whose credentials as an exemplary educator and administrator are well known and appreciated locally as well as throughout the state, is that person. Chris has set high standards for our students at Lincoln and no doubt will do likewise at Kelley, building on the momentum Gary Brookins had established.'

Secondly it was felt that Houser, who the superintendent said has built such a strong sense of family among students, parents and staff at Perkins, would be the right person to fill the vacancy at Lincoln where Mizro had done likewise.

Thirdly, just as Achille has demonstrated her strength in being able to bring out the best in students and staff at the Middle School, it is believed she will do the same as principal at Perkins.

Having worked for the school district since 1979, Mizro said she knows and has worked with many of the staff members at Kelley. '...I also plan to build on the instructional practices at the school that Gary created. He was focused on improving student achievement and that will be one of my primary goals as well. And I am also excited that I will be able to continue working with many of the children who I worked with in Kindergarten through second grade at Lincoln.

Houser said the move for her is a good fit because of her strengths as a primary level administrator and as a people person. She also noted that the expertise she gained this last year in helping staff maintain an effective learning environment while building and renovation was going on at Perkins, will prove invaluable at Lincoln when project work gets underway there this fall.

Achille said she is looking forward to being principal at Perkins. 'It will be a new and different experience for me, but I know there are a lot of positive things with regard to instruction going on at the primary level and I am anxious to be involved in them.'

Another stride forward in insuring the district's commitment to excellence in instruction has been made in the recommendation of Yvonne Saner to fill a newly-proposed administrative position of Director of Elementary Instructional Services.

She would work closely with Assistant Superintendent For Curriculum and Instruction Henry Hann and the three elementary principals.

It hasn't been decided who will fill the assistant principals position at the Middle School, but discussion is underway and a decision will likely be made in the near future.

The two administrative assistant positions held by Donna Buck at Kelley and Cindy Russell at Perkins and Lincoln will continue. Russell's duties will be expanded at the two schools, in addition to her duties as Prekindergarten Program supervisor.

The Board of Education will act on the superintendent's recommendation July 20 at its regularly scheduled meeting.

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