3 Principals Named As Tracey Assembles Executive Team

Now that Iline Tracey is officially superintendent of New Haven Public Schools, she is beginning to assemble the team who will mold the district’s curricula, technology policies and school operations under her tenure.

Based on Tracey’s recommendations, the Board of Education voted in three principals and three top administrators on Monday evening.

“I know quite a few of these names, and they are all amazing,” said board member Tamiko Jackson-McArthur.

The board appointed Mia Edmonds-Duff as the principal of Roberto Clemente Leadership Academy, Marc Potocsky as the principal of the Sound School and Shawn True as the principal of Hill Regional Career High School.

All three have recent experience leading New Haven schools. Edmonds-Duff and Potocsky have served as assistant principals of Career and Wilbur Cross, respectively. True is leaving his role as principal of Betsy Ross Arts Magnet Middle School.

“I’m crying,” said Jackson-McArthur, who said her children go to Betsy Ross.

“To be named principal of the Sound School is really a long-term dream for me. It’s rare to get to marry one’s private and professional life,” Potocsy said of the maritime-focused school.

Rosalyn Diaz-Ortiz became the supervisor of the district’s English learning program and Gildemar Herrera the director of information technology. Ivelise Velazquez will be taking over Tracey’s former position as the assistant superintendent for curricula and assessment.

Both Edmonds-Duff and Diaz-Ortiz are products of New Haven schools. Diaz-Ortiz moved from Puerto Rico at age 14 and went through the English learning program she will be supervising.

Curriculum Superintendent Controversy

The appointment of Velazquez to Tracey’s former role proved to be the most controversial of the votes.

Board member Darnell Goldson was the most vocally opposed to Velazquez’s hire. He said that he wanted time to read her full contract, which was not initially included in the meeting materials. He also cited her departure from the school system last year and the district’s tight budget as reasons not to hire her.

Tracey said that she knows why Velazquez left and is satisfied with her reasons.

Velazquez told the Independent at the time that she was leaving to pursue a doctorate degree and to find work that was a better fit for her focus on racial equity and early literacy. She left around the same time as several other top administrators.

Jackson-McArthur and fellow board member Larry Conaway agreed with Goldson that they would like more time to consider the appointment. Conaway said that he wanted to read the contract, which Tracey had a staffer email to the board during the meeting after hearing the concern.

Jackson-McArthur said that she spoke with Tracey beforehand and that conversation in her mind settled the doubts Goldson had raised. She wanted more time to hear what Velazquez thinks needs to change in the district’s curriculum.

“I want to be clear on our curriculum and our approach,” Jackson-McArthur said.

Matthew Wilcox suggested that he and the other board members could recess for a few minutes to read Velazquez’s contract. He thought that the appointment should happen at the meeting so Tracey and Velazquez are not left in limbo for two weeks.

Eventually, the majority of the board decided to vote on Velazquez’s hire on Monday. The vote to appoint her was 4 – 3, with Goldson, Conaway and Jackson-McArthur casting the no votes.

After the deliberations, Tracey invited the new hires onto visible side of the Zoom conference call to introduce themselves. Velazquez said that she had heard the conversation and wanted to take the opportunity to reaffirm her commitment to the school system.

“I really have missed New Haven,” Velazquez said. ​“I am looking forward to partnering with each and everyone of you.”