After 32 Years In Education, Donna Denniston Retires

By Eliza Hallabeck

Reed Intermediate Principal Donna Denniston first entered the world of academia because, as she told The Bee this week, she was interested in the way “people and children learn.”

Now, after Ms Denniston has announced her retirement to the staff members at the school, sent out a letter to parents and a letter to the Board of Education, she said she has started to make a list of all the days left in the school year that will make her emotional, like attending the remaining school concerts.

“I think that when you open a school, you have a unique opportunity,” said Ms Denniston, while remembering her first six months spent working at Reed Intermediate School. The walls were not yet assembled, and her office was stationed in neighboring Fairfield Hills.

Ms Denniston, who grew up in Tennessee and moved to Newtown in 1982, taught in Bethel and later worked in Easton. She was commuting to teach in Easton when she passed the beginning construction stages of Reed Intermediate School.

She said she thought the chance to have a school specifically for fifth and sixth grade students, to develop a curriculum and design a building around the two grade levels, was perfect. She applied for and accepted the position as principal of the new school and started work there in June 2002.

“And I have never worked so hard in my entire life,” said Ms Denniston, who is the mother of two adult sons who live in the area.

When she arrived at the school, all of the walls were not up, but she started working with staff members to build a school from scratch over the next six months. The opening day was set for January, and, when it came close, there was a threat of snow.

“In the end it turned out it was only a delayed opening,” said Ms Denniston. She added that, other than the delayed start on the first day, the school opened without a hitch and has been running well ever since.

A group of parents helped during that first day to guide students around the school, and the teachers were great, she said. The curriculum of the school worked in the K–12 curriculum within the school district, and the building helped to strengthen the concept of a team for the fifth and sixth grade levels of learners.

Ms Denniston said the whole emphasis of the building was to provide a two-teacher team learning environment for the students. Reed Intermediate School, she said, continues to provide the perfect balance between an elementary level education and a middle school education.

“They really are a unique age group,” said Ms Denniston, and added that Reed is the perfect stepping stone for the students.

A Wonderful Community

Without knowing who will be stepping in to sit in the principal’s office when she officially retires, Ms Denniston said, “I would tell that person that it is a wonderful community. Not only to work in, but also to raise children.”

“We work with wonderful children,” Ms Denniston said.

A number of children, she said, that have come through the school she can think of as her successes.

“The staff in this district is the most amazing staff,” said Ms Denniston. “What these teachers give of their personal time is beyond the clock.”

Ms Denniston also said the administrators in town are a skilled, dedicated, and professional group of people.

When asked if she will miss Reed Intermediate School, Ms Denniston said, “Oh, you bet.”

She continued, “It’s a stressful job. There’s no two ways about it,” adding she had no doubt that she will miss the school.

At Reed, she said, not just the certified staff educate the students, but everyone from the custodians to the office staff contributes. “They are just unsurpassed. They are amazing,” she said.

Reed Intermediate School, she said, is a large school, and she and Assistant Principal Tony Salvatore alone could not lead the school without teachers who also act as leaders within the school.

“I’ve loved working here,” said Ms Denniston, “working with the staff, the students, and the families. I have loved this job.”

Residents of Newtown, Ms Denniston said, are fortunate to have the staff it has within its schools, “and that is taken for granted. And it bears reminding people once and a while.”

In her letter to the Reed Intermediate School community members, Ms Denniston wrote: “I have made the decision to retire. At the end of this year, I will have finished 32 joyful, challenging, enlightening, at times exasperating but overall truly wonderful years as a principal and teacher. During that time, I have seen countless children thrive in our schools and go on to become responsible, happy and productive adults and citizens. I have worked with amazing teachers whose depth of commitment and level of work is never truly understood by anyone who isn’t able to observe it day in and day out. I have worked hand-in-hand with parents who amazed me with their relentless commitment to the welfare of their own children and also through their volunteer work for the welfare of all of the children. And finally, I have worked with many public servants who work hard to carry out their responsibilities to govern, fund or secure the safety of our schools. Each and every one of them dedicates his or her time to the task, and I have been the recipient of their efforts.”

Ms Denniston said she had been thinking of retiring since the fall, and looks forward to traveling and spending time giving back to the community.

“For me it’s sad,” said Superintendent of Schools Janet Robinson of Ms Dennison’s retirement, “but I am joyful for her as she starts this new stage of her life.”

Dr Robinson said Ms Denniston had a wonderful opportunity to accomplish something every administrator would love; she opened a school.

Dr Robinson continued, saying that Ms Denniston did a wonderful job and, “We will miss her.”