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03/10/2020 12:00 PMWestbrook Superintendent of Schools Patricia A. Ciccone has announced her retirement at the end of the school year. Ciccone has been in the position since 2012.
In her March 2 resignation letter addressed to faculty and staff, Ciccone lauded them for their successes in increasing student achievement, noting that “closing the achievement gap, especially with regard to our special needs and English learners, has been documented and our focus on critical school climate and social emotional learning outcomes has resulted in impressive accolades for our students and staff.”
Her letter highlighted district achievements such the Westbrook High School (WHS) student leadership program, which she called “the highest quality student leadership platform in the state, if not the country,” evidenced by the participating students’ “invitations, honors, and awards.” The program, which focuses on school climate, is led by Teen Leadership Coordinator Chet Bialicki and was spurred by a request from Ciccone that he involve students in a National School Climate Center pilot project.
“Your commitment to maintaining the arts and your commitment to giving students open access in the face of regionalization threats and declining Connecticut enrollments has been genuine and deep,” she told faculty and staff in her letter.
Ciccone had not responded to a call for comment by press time.
Ciccone started her career in education in the 1970s as an English teacher at Norwich Free Academy, went on to work in career and human resources at two Connecticut community colleges, and then moved into administration, eventually serving as superintendent of the state’s technical high school system.
It was from there that she came to Westbrook Public Schools, where, among other initiatives, she launched unified sports and theater programs to incorporate students with special needs into the district’s extracurricular activities.
Ciccone was instrumental in making possible the hiring of WHS’s first career/college readiness coordinator at the start of the current academic year with the help of volunteer fundraising efforts of three residents and contributions from the town, local businesses, and organizations.
A Board of Education (BOE) press release issued on March 3 called Ciccone a “national thought leader on school climate” and cited her work as co-chair of the regional superintendent’s association and positions on the Department of Children & Families Advisory Committee and the Children’s Sexual Abuse & Assault Committee.
“We are grateful for the work that Ms. Ciccone has done on behalf of our community, which we credit with leading to increases in student achievement, reductions in the achievement gap, innovative curricula, and creative programs for students,” the press release states.
Ciccone will officially retire on June 30. The BOE will discuss the “leadership transition for the district” at a special meeting on Monday, March 16 at 6 p.m. at the WHS Library, 156 McVeagh Road, according to the press release and BOE website.