School Board Hires

NHS Administrators

By Laurie Borst

On Tuesday, July 31, the Board of Education held a special session to interview, and ultimately name, candidates for the positions of interim principal and assistant principal at Newtown High School.

John Joseph Smith will begin serving the district on August 6 as interim principal. Dr Smith, of Easton, brings a strong leadership background to NHS.

“I had the pleasure of having a conversation with Dr Smith,” said board secretary Andrew Buzzi. “I believe we have the right man for the job to help Newtown through this transition.”

Dr Smith taught English and served as department chair at East Catholic High School in Manchester. He was assistant/vice principal in Rocky Hill and Simsbury. Dr Smith has served as principal in New Canaan High, Conard High in West Hartford, Horace Greeley High, Chappaqua, N.Y., and retired last year from East Haven High.

Dr Smith holds certification in both Connecticut and New York for school and district administration as well as assessor for the BEST (Beginning Educator Support and Training) program in Connecticut.

His professional service includes membership on committees and councils for the National Merit Scholarship Corporation and the College Board’s National Committee on the SAT. He has served on the Board of Directors for Connecticut Association of Schools (CAS), Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference (CIAC), and has been a member or chair of various standing or ad hoc committees of CAS/CIAC.

Dr Smith holds degrees from the University of Notre Dame, Brown University, and the University of Connecticut, where he earned his sixth year diploma and PhD in educational leadership.

He has already been preparing take the reins at the high school.

“I met with Arlene [Gottesman] to learn about the school and routines,” said Dr Smith. “She’s been very gracious with her time now and in the future.”

Dr Smith will serve as interim principal while the board and the district conduct a search for a permanent replacement.

At the end of this school year, Neil Culhane left the position of director of guidance at Newtown High School. Cathy Ostar, who had been one of three assistant principals, was tapped to file that spot.

John Tusch has been selected as the new assistant principal. He joins Jason Hiruo and Scott Clayton sharing the duties as assistant school administrators.

Mr Tusch exemplifies the concept of the “lifelong learner.” He began teaching music in 1989. Since then, he has increased his skills to include teaching drama, theater arts technology, English, and talented and gifted.

In 2003, Mr Tusch accepted the position of assistant principal at Maloney High School in Meriden, an urban school with more than 1,300 students. He served Meriden for two years, then accepted the position of director of visual and performing arts for New Canaan Public Schools.

Mr Tusch grew up in nearby Shelton. He earned a bachelor of music degree from Boston University, a master of science in music education from Western Connecticut State University, and cross-endorsement in English: 7–12 and a sixth year professional diploma in educational leadership from Southern Connecticut State University.

Besides certification in music, pre-K–12 and English, 7–12, he is also certified as intermediate administrator and supervisor. Mr Tusch has also been a BEST mentor/cooperating teacher.

Curriculum and Leadership Councils and Committees have benefited from Mr Tusch’s involvement, including Professional Development programs, NEASC Standards on Curriculum, Community Outreach, Special Education, Technology, and Fine Arts Hiring.

Mr Tusch has served as music department curriculum supervisor for Meriden Public Schools. He was the chair of Independent Study Program and served on the Talented and Gifted Curriculum Committee at Weston High.

He has led professional development workshops offering CEUs in technology areas including Hyperstudio and Kid Pix Studio, Gradekeeper, Microsoft Front Page and PowerPoint, Technology Café, and Visual and Performing Arts Development.

“My wife and I moved to Newtown a couple of years ago when we decided to start a family,” Mr Tusch said. “We wanted good schools for daughter and we knew Newtown’s reputation. Then this opportunity presented itself.”

Mr Tusch said he is looking forward to working with John Smith and with Jason Hiruo and Scott Clayton.

“I wanted to get back with kids and teachers,” he stated. “I love what I’ve learned about Newtown already. I’m looking forward to getting to know everyone.”