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O’Rourke Starts School Year as Principal of North Branford Intermediate School

The North Branford Board of Education announces the appointment of Keith O’Rourke as principal of North Branford Intermediate School (NBIS). O’Rourke earned his bachelor’s degree in history and secondary education from Hofstra University, a master’s degree in educational technology from Fairfield University, and his certification in intermediate administration and supervision from Sacred Heart University.

O’Rourke has been a middle school educator for 20 years. The first part of his career was spent at Roger Ludlowe Middle School of the Fairfield Public Schools, where he served as an 8th grade social studies teacher, a department liaison for social studies, and the dean of students.

O’Rourke was appointed assistant principal of NBIS in August 2013, and most recently served as the acting/interim principal at NBIS since April 2017. During his tenure, O’Rourke has worked diligently with stakeholder groups to guide NBIS through the academic, social, and emotional challenges that both typically characterize a middle school and have epitomized recent times.

He has overseen efforts to increase student achievement, reform school improvement initiatives, and promote a safe and positive school climate. Under O’Rourke’s leadership, NBIS redesigned the school schedule, which resulted in the creation of academic support time for all students, an increase in instructional contact time in the core subject areas, and the refining of how at-risk students are identified through the response to intervention process.

This past school year, NBIS was awarded exemplary “Positive School Climate Status” by the Connecticut Association of Schools. This accolade was awarded following a rigorous application and review, and NBIS is one of only six middle schools in the state with the rating.

School climate initiatives such as NBIS PRIDE, The Davis Way, and the ADL Peer Leaders have reflected O’Rourke’s commitment to making NBIS a safe and welcoming place for everyone. For the upcoming school year, he looks forward to continue growing upon current school climate initiatives and programs, implementing the readers workshop model for ELA, expanding foreign language opportunities, beginning a 1:1 Chromebook program for the 8th grade, introducing the Junior National Honor Society Program, and launching new innovative inquiry-based programs aligned to both the Next Generation Science Standards (The Legends of Learning) and the C3 College, Career, and Civic Life Framework for Social Studies (HistoryQuest Program).