Newly appointed asst. principals Jo-Ann Ferris, Breanna Evans, Cara Campo.
New leadership is on the way to Bishop Woods School, Conte/West Hills Magnet School, and King-Robinson Inter-District Magnet School.
The Board of Education approved three administrative appointments for the three magnet schools during the board’s latest regular biweekly meeting Monday night.
The appointments of the soon-to-be assistant principals are Bishop Woods teacher Cara Campo, Conte teacher Jo-Ann Ferris, and King-Robinson teacher Breanna Evans. While Campo’s and Evans’ new titles will be assistant principal at their respective schools, Ferris’ new title will be “coordinator,” though that position has similar responsibilities to assistant principal.
Superintendent Iline Tracey recommended the trio for the promotional appointments that will be effective Aug. 18. After Monday’s vote, Tracey briefly highlighted each teacher’s journey to becoming an assistant principal.
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Campo previously served as the Magnet School Resource teacher at Bishop Woods. She worked as a fourth-grade teacher at the school before that.
“Before [Bishop Woods] even became a federal magnet school, she brought on a lot of innovative work into the school itself,” Tracey said.
Campo has worked for the New Haven Public Schools (NHPS) since 2001 and described Bishop Woods as her “second home” during Monday’s meeting. She vowed to continue to boost students’ academic confidence and support Bishop Woods’ new principal Florence Crisci, who was appointed to the new position earlier this month.
“At Bishop Woods our motto is ‘Yes I can,’ and I intend to bring that energy and mindset to the role as I support Flo Crisci our new principal and the entire Bishop Woods community,” Campo said.
King-Robinson Website
Breanna Evans is a New Haven native who grew up attending NHPS. Tracey recalled teaching Evans as a third grade student at the Timothy Dwight School, which closed in 2008.
“I can remember just seeing that little face of Breanna in those days, very interested in learning,” Tracey recalled.
Evans is being promoted from a STEM Magnet School Resource teacher after being at King-Robinson for three years.
“This is an amazing opportunity for me and my family and I just look forward to continuing my work with the King-Robinson family,” Evans said at the Monday meeting.
Conte Magnet School Resource teacher Jo-Ann Ferris will take on the role of coordinator at Conte/West.
Ferris was raised in New Haven and was originally hired as a fifth grade teacher at Conte 17 years ago.
She was raised in and her family still resides in Wooster Square. Her family has owned a business in New Haven for more than 47 years, she added.
“I was raised in New Haven. I have a deep connection to Conte for spending most of my time there but also growing up in the neighborhood,” Ferris said at the Monday meeting. “I come from a family that loves serving New Haven.”
The board also approved 22 teacher appointments (some pending certification) and two non-instructional staff hires.
Watch Monday’s Board of Education meeting in full below.
I can't say I am surprise but this is some nonsense. First congrats to the appointed APs, but what does it mean Jo-Ann will be a coordinator with similar responsibilities as an AP? does she get paid as an AP? There are two APs, at Conte, one of them (Tom McCarthy) demoted principal who still gets paid as a principal doing horrible job even as an AP. With all the support Conte receives from Central office, the school continues to perform poorly. why is the tax payers money not providing resource and support to the students and families of Conte? Spence cares more about some adults in her buildings than the students. I bet she convince her buddy Dr. Tracy to create this role for Jo-Ann as a favor. I am assuming she will continue to be her personal secretary. I will be extremely surprised to see if Jo-Ann's promotion impacts the students learning or experience at Conte.