Spokesperson, 2 Principals Approved

New Haven Public School’s (NHPS) veteran school leader Sequella Coleman is taking on a new role this fall, as principal of Metropolitan Business Academy.

The Board of Education voted to approve Coleman’s transfer to the new administrative position Monday night at a regular biweekly meeting. Her transfer will be effective Aug. 18, two weeks before schools are set to reopen.

For the past seven years Coleman has been the principal of the Davis Street Magnet School. She took on that position in 2014, after longtime principal Lola Nathan retired.

Coleman, a Hillhouse alum, has worked in several NHPS roles including in central office, as a teacher, and administrator.

“I’m very excited about this next chapter in my long New Haven public school history,” Coleman said.

She noted that Davis is in good hands with her replacement, Marisa Asarisi, who has served as Davis’ assistant principal and worked by Coleman’s side for the past seven years.

“Ms. Coleman, you’ll be missed,” Asarisi said.

Asarisi, a 17-year NHPS veteran was promoted to interim principal at Davis. At Monday’s meeting, she said that she looks forward to taking on the new role with support from Coleman and her Davis family. Asarisi’s promotion will bring her salary up to $158,672.

Asarisi was appointed interim principal because the hiring team did not have enough time to carry out a full interview process, Superintendent Iline Tracey said.

The board also appointed Justin Harmon as the NHPS Central Office director of marketing and communications. Harmon, who has 30 yrs experience in marketing and communications, promised that in his new role he will promote a culture of transparency and accountability. Harmon’s salary will start at $118,500.

Board members Tamiko Jackson McArthur and Darnell Goldson abstained from the approval vote during Monday’s meeting after raising concerns about not being involved in the hiring process for their board’s designated spokesperson. The remaining four votes were in favor of the superintendent’s proposed appointments. 

“That is a very very important place to be,” said Jackson-McArthur, who argued that the board’s executive team should have been consulted during the hiring process of a director of marketing and communications.

Also approved were the promotion of three teachers, appointments of 42 teachers, five paraprofessionals, and five non-instructional staff members.

Watch the full board meeting below.