New Haven School District approves three principal appointments as staff and families voice support and concern

The New Haven School District Board of Education approved three principal appointments at its May 26 meeting, accepting Superintendent Dr. Alberto Negron’s recommendations for Worthington, Benjamin Jepsen and the Family Academy of Multilingual Exploration (FAME).

Superintendent Negron described a multi-step principal selection process that included human-resources screening, phase-one and phase-two interview panels, School Planning and Management Team input, and a final superintendent interview. "I review all interview materials... and then I submit a formal hiring recommendation to the board of education, which I am doing tonight," Negron said during the personnel report.

The board voted unanimously to approve the appointments after the superintendent requested a clerical correction to Rosa Ortiz’s years of experience on the personnel report. Negron said Ortiz’s experience should be recorded as 32 years rather than nine; the chair moved to amend the personnel report and the motion carried.

Members of the FAME community spoke during public comment before the board vote. Judith Leach, identifying herself as an SPMT chair and a 21-year FAME teacher, called attention to assistant principal Regina Carini’s restorative-justice work, crisis leadership and work to reduce chronic absenteeism and urged the board to "ensure that Miss Carini’s invaluable institutional knowledge... are fiercely protected." Jeanette Gonzalez, PTO president at FAME, said families were "profoundly disappointed" that Carini was not promoted to principal.

Rosa Ortiz, introduced by the superintendent as the new principal at FAME, said she was "honored and humbled" to join the district and described bilingualism and biliteracy as strengths she intends to cultivate. Cara Campo and Carissa Stalsman, the other two appointees, each thanked the superintendent and pledged equity-focused leadership at Worthington and Jepsen, respectively.

Dr. Negron told the board that for one of the vacancies the process yielded two remaining candidates — one internal and one external — and that the SPMT, unions and staff had opportunities to provide input before the superintendent made a final recommendation.

The board’s votes to approve the personnel report and the three appointments were recorded as unanimous. The superintendent said the appointments become effective July 1.

The board did not take questions on the public comments; the chair had reminded speakers earlier that public participation items would be referred to administration for review.