New Special Education Supervisor Hired

By Eliza Hallabeck

The Board of Education unanimously voted to hire Eric Colón-Rodriguez as the district’s new special education supervisor following an executive session held before its regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday, September 20.

“We’re very excited to have him come aboard and begin working with us,” said Superintendent of Schools Janet Robinson following Tuesday’s meeting.

Board of Education Chair William Hart said Dr Colón-Rodriguez will fill the position left open by Janet Calabro at the end of the last school year. According to Dr Robinson, Ms Calabro left to become the head of a special education school.

Dr Colón-Rodriguez will report to Michael Regan, the district’s director of pupil services.

Mr Hart said Dr Colón-Rodriguez was the final contender for the position, and, as such, was the only one to come before the school board before being hired for the title of special education supervisor.

The duties of the position will remain the same, Dr Robinson said, and include attending planning and placement team (PPT) meetings and monitoring individualized education program (IEP) development.

“It’s a big job,” said Dr Robinson.

Dr Colón-Rodriguez comes to Newtown from New Britain, where he worked as a PPT coordinator, according to the superintendent.

“He knows the PPT process,” Dr Robinson said. “He has been doing it for a long time, so there is no question that with him things will be done correctly according to the law, but I think he also brings a lot of compassion for parents and students.”

Under the administrator’s contract agreement, Dr Robinson explained, Dr Colón-Rodriguez is set to receive a $106,000 salary.