District Names New Director For Pupil Personnel Services

By Tanjua Damon

The Newtown Board of Education named Michael F. Regan as the new director of pupil personnel services Tuesday night to replace Robert Chiappetta, who is retiring after serving Newtown for more than 20 years.

Dr Regan, 45, lives in Wolcott and currently is the director of pupil services in Regional School District 17 in Higganum, which has 2,500 students. He will begin at his new post July 1 and will be paid $112,330, $4,320 more than Mr Chiappetta currently is paid.

Dr Regan looks forward to serving the Newtown community. He has worked with Superintendent of Schools Evan Pitkoff in the past when Dr Pitkoff was a principal in New Britain. Dr Regan was a bilingual school psychologist at the time. Dr Regan explained that he was not looking to change jobs, but once he saw the Newtown opening felt he could not pass up an opportunity.

“I know the superintendent. I worked with him when he was a high school principal in New Britain,” Dr Regan said. “He’s intelligent. I look forward to working with him again. Newtown has a great many resources as well.”

Dr Regan has a doctorate and master of philosophy from Teacher’s College at Columbia University. He received from Southern Connecticut State University a master of science in school psychology, a sixth year professional certificate in school psychology, and an education leadership certificate. He received his bachelor of arts in Spanish, and a minor in music from Central Connecticut State University.

“I can see things from multiple angles,” Dr Regan said. “I have a great amount of professional experience; I want to impart some of the things that I have learned along the way.”

Dr Regan said he has a lot of energy and spends much time looking for things that add to his knowledge base and that will be useful to the job of service students with special needs.

“I want to be cutting edge. I don’t want to be reactive, or two steps behind. I want to be proactive,” he said. “I do things smart; I don’t do things more.”

Dr Regan is up to the challenge of figuring out ways for Newtown to receive grants and other funding to help with its growing special education tuition. This year has been a difficult year for Newtown with many more students being placed out of district adding more financial pressure to the district’s budget. He hopes his strengths add to the direction the district is going.

“I’m an inquisitive person. I look for things that intellectually stimulate me,” he said. “I’m extremely energetic. Everyday is a new day in special education.”

He has a professional certification from the State of Connecticut in school psychology and Spanish grades 7–12, an initial educator certification from the State of Connecticut in intermediate administration, and national certification in school psychology. He has several published articles and has participated in and organized a number of professional activities and workshops or presentations. Professional affiliations include American Psychological Association, International Neuropsychological Society, National Association of School Psychologists, Connecticut Association of School Psychologists, and American Psychological Association of School Psychologists.

He and his wife, Cathy, have two daughters, Alison and Maia. The family also has a golden retriever, a Shih Tzu, and 12-year-old rabbit.