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05/17/2016 12:00 AMAt its May 16 meeting, the Clinton Board of Education named the district’s new superintendent of schools. Effective July 1, Assistant Superintendent Maryann O’Donnell will replace Jack Cross, who retires at the end of this school year.
Earlier this year, after Cross announced his intent to retire, the board appointed itself the Superintendent Search Committee and convened its first meeting on March 15.
“Our four subcommittees outlined what we wanted in a new superintendent, and all those things very clearly came through in Maryann’s vision for our district and what’s best for our kids and our town,” said BOE Chair Annaliese Spaziano.
Among other things, O’Donnell outlined key components of an entry plan to span her first three to five months, which includes meeting with community stakeholders and discussing reflections and ideas about the district’s schools and future needs.
“This input will be gathered, organized, and summarized for the Board of Ed,” O’Donnell said, “and used to guide our decision-making as we set the course for our schools. I am ready to take on these challenges and have the opportunity to shape the work of this district in a very meaningful way.”
Crediting outgoing superintendent Cross for being “an outstanding leader, mentor, and partner,” O’Donnell said she plans to work with him over the next six weeks to coordinate a smooth transition in leadership.
At the Feb. 1 BOE meeting, Cross announced his plan to retire and spend more time with his family. His last day as superintendent will be June 30.
“I am honored to have the support of the Board of Ed and am very excited about the next steps for me in leading the Clinton Public Schools,” O’Donnell said. “There are some major transitions happening in the district this summer, and much of my focus will be in planning for and supporting the opening of the new Morgan School in August. There are many details related to the move and the preparation for operations within the new building that will be a priority for me,” she said, adding that the new Morgan building “is a tribute to the community and its support for our children. I look forward to seeing the impact of this amazing facility on our educational system, as well as for our town as a whole.”
Other changes related to the Morgan transition, she says, are closing out the existing school, turning the building back over to the town and eventually the new buyer, and moving the district maintenance facility from the existing Morgan School to its new shared location with the Department of Public Works.
Aside from Morgan building-related work, O’Donnell will be involved in the implementation of a new financial software program for the Board of Education.
“This is in addition to the work related to the new school year and establishing district and building goals to guide our work in 2016-2017,” she said. “The normal cycle of planning and preparation for staffing, materials and resources, and programming will also occupy my focus to ensure we have a successful school year.”
O’Donnell has served as assistant superintendent in Clinton for just more than seven years, since January 2009. Previously, she was a curriculum director for Griswold Public Schools, associate principal at Griswold High School, and assistant principal and dean of students at Keller Middle School in Las Vegas. She has also taught science at Connecticut, Nevada, and Texas schools. After graduating magna cum laude from Providence College in 1989 with a bachelor of science degree in biology and teacher prep, she earned two master’s degrees, from the University of Phoenix and Texas Tech, and completed UConn’s Executive Leadership Program in 2014.
O’Donnell’s husband, Thomas, and their son, Michael, 10, were on hand at the Board of Education meeting to celebrate the announcement.
“They are truly my support network, and I am so appreciative of their willingness to understand and support me in the work that I do,” O’Donnell said.