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Superintendent Weekly Update #19

Posted Date: 01/31/26 (01:37 PM)
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Superintendent's Update

Weekly Update #19 January 31, 2026

Diverse students

Leveling Up Culturally Responsive and Engaging Pedagogy "With a Little Help from our Friends"

District Intended Outcome: That we maintain the high performance of students meeting and exceeding district standards/expectations, increase performance of students performing below district standards/expectations, and reduce the predictable performance gap between groups of students performing at or above standards/expectations and groups of students performing below standards/expectations.

Our Educators and Students are Doing Amazing Things!

Important Staffing Updates
Assistant Superintendent Stephen Foresi notified me on Saturday evening that he has been appointed to the position of Superintendent of Brookfield Public Schools. His last day in NPS will be Friday, February 6. Steve has worked for Newington Public Schools for the past twenty years beginning as Principal of John Paterson and then serving in a variety of Central Office positions including Assistant Superintendent of Human Capital Development. Please join me in thanking Steve for his 20 years of hard work and dedication to NPS. We wish him much success in his new endeavor.

I am also pleased to announce that, effective March 2, I will be appointing Daniel Dias to the position of Assistant Superintendent of Human Capital Development. Dan has been with NPS for twenty years in a variety of positions that include Social Studies/History teacher and Assistant Principal at Newington High School, as well as Assistant Principal at John Wallace Middle School. He has served in his current role as the principal of John Wallace Middle School for the past 9 years and has been highly supportive and innovative with the district’s equity efforts.

Current Wallace Assistant Principal Marco Tirillo will serve as the Interim Principal of Wallace for the remainder of this school year. Former Wallace Principal, Dave Milardo and Rosa Perez (retired administrator from Plainville Community Schools and recent long term Assistant Principal sub at NHS) will assume shared responsibility for the Assistant Principal position at Wallace for the remainder of the school year.
Stars
Cookies for Anna Reynolds Students
As a thank you for their stellar presentation to the Board meeting last week, I was thrilled to deliver cookies to Cristina Figueiredo’s math students at Anna Reynolds! It was a "sweet" way to recognize their hard work!
Goats and a Lamb Visit NHS
Last Friday, students and staff were thrilled by goat and lamb visitors in the Newington High School gymnasium. This was a nice stress relief to break up the midterm exam week!
Goats and lambs at NHS
Goats and lambs at NHS

We are Tigers-Published Authors at Reynolds

Anna Reynolds School's Read and Write Across Reynolds Committee unveiled and celebrated their new book of writing called We Are Tigers published by Jeff Helming. The students gathered and watched as cover artist Alex Ferguson and back cover artist Gabriella Pinkerton helped to unveil posters of the book cover (that were printed and donated by Rebecca Vansoest's father). 

Dr. Brummett shared celebratory words of encouragement from her Forward in the book and was followed by student readers, Mia Haslem, Ainsley O'Neill, Esther Cantahede, and Nathan Pate, who shared their pieces with the school. Published authors and illustrators received a copy of the book. Each classroom has copies of the book. Soon books will be available to Lucy Robbins Welles Library for any child to borrow. 

This is the third book Jeff Helming, last year's Connecticut Teacher of the Year Finalist and second grade teacher, has published for the school thanks to a generous donation from the Anna Reynolds PTO. This book represents a community effort to encourage and celebrate young authors.
pictures from assembly
helping hands

Everyday Hero 2025-26

Linked here is the Everyday Hero nomination form for this school year.
Coming Attractions

Coming Attractions

With the Snow Day on January 26, our new last day of school is Thursday, June 18, 2026.
Equity

Disability Awareness and Inclusion

Jason Lambert shared:We are proud to highlight the outstanding work at Martin Kellogg Middle School in support of disability awareness and inclusion!
Teachers Maria Morse, Jennifer McGowan, Brian Johnson, and Karen Leggett (pictured left to right), along with teacher Jennifer Meister (not pictured) and student Jacob Bailey, led our Grade 6 students in a variety of engaging activities designed to build greater understanding, empathy, and positive interactions with individuals with disabilities. This initiative kicked off with the first of four planned forums during the Reach period in the Media Center, presented by our dedicated case managers.
The session focused on meaningful ways to understand and interact with people with disabilities, fostering important conversations and connections.
Thank you to these educators, our student leader Jacob, and all involved for championing this vital work. Your efforts help create a more inclusive and compassionate school community for everyone!

MK Special Ed Teachers
Students hearing a lesson

Celebrations and Condolences

Celebrations: Dean Barnes welcomed grandson Micha-James Credit on January 22.

Condolences:
Be Well
Maureen