NHS Interim Principal Takes The Reins

By Larissa Lytwyn

Newtown High School Principal Bill Manfredonia’s departure on November 30 marked the end of his more than 30-year career at the school, the past 16 as principal.

Under his guidance, NHS became a blue-ribbon school, one of the state’s top achievers both scholastically and athletically.

Interim Principal Patricia Llodra, a Newtown resident whose three children graduated from the Newtown public school system, said she intends to continue Mr Manfredonia’s “tradition of excellence.”

She began her official tenure on December 1, following a ten-day training period from November 15 through November 30. She will conclude her position in June 2005, earning a salary of $382 a day, not to exceed $56,653.

Ms Llodra had a 16-year tenure as principal of Northwestern Regional School in Winsted, from 1989 to her retirement in June 2004.

“The regional school, which actually covers New Hartford, Barkhamstead, Norfolk, and Colebrook, is set across a wide geographic area,” the new principal explained. “But the school’s population was actually smaller than it is here at Newtown High School.”

Still, Ms Llodra noted striking similarities between the Newtown and Northwestern districts.

“Here at NHS, there is a strong seriousness of purpose, an emphasis on not only on the academic, but also the interpersonal relationships between students, faculty, and parents,” she said. “There is a very warm, progressive kind of culture here. I believe it is very similar in that way to what we had at Northwestern.”

She said she was excited by Newtown’s commitment to education. “There is a lot of support here,” she said.

Ms Llodra also spoke positively about NHS’s recently heightened security measures, part of a comprehensive faculty effort to create a more interpersonal school culture.

“This year, I know Northwestern, like NHS, began issuing student and staff IDs,” said Ms Llodra.

Other measures, however, such as all but one entrance door being locked during the school day, have long been instituted at Northwestern.

“These security measures are for the safety of both the students and the faculty,” explained Ms Llodra.

She also said she believed that the NHS three- to two-tier substance abuse policy, which she described as similar to Northwestern’s, was a powerful and effective one.

“With the great amount of intervention that takes place at the first offense [at NHS], it is clear that we are working to help students get the help they need,” she said.

With the upcoming faculty budget presentations to the Board of Education on December 8, Ms Llodra said she is prepared and “ready to go.”

“I’ve been presenting budgets and going through that process for 20 years,” she said. “It is not a process that makes me uncomfortable. The key to the budget is prioritizing and understanding the needs of the community.”

In addition to her extensive administrative experience, Ms Llodra began her career in education as a math teacher at John Read Middle School in Redding from 1978 to 1982.

She also served on Nonnewaug High School’s math faculty before moving into the school’s assistant principal position, one she held from 1986 to 1989.

She reflected on the value of seeing Newtown High School from an “outside” perspective.

“I believe it gives me a fresher sense of what the school’s current culture is like, and unique insight, perhaps, into what its needs are,” she said.

She praised NHS’s staff, students, and parents.

“We have a very strong, cohesive community here in Newtown,” she said. “Here at NHS, my goal is simply to continue that strong tradition.”

Part of this goal, she said, is continuing to guide faculty members through the school’s New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC) accreditation process; evaluation will take place in September 2005.

Ms Llodra has been a member and chair of the local NEASC committee since 1996.

She also has experience serving on the Newtown Board of Education, a position she held from 1976 to 1982.

“I understand the multiple dynamics and processes that [the budget] entails, as well as the details of the accreditation [process],” she said. “The key is strong leadership, and I am looking forward to putting forth my best efforts to provide that!”

One thing she said parents would be happy to hear is that when she walks into Newtown High School, she is struck by how respectful the students are to staff, and to one another.

“I’ve been very impressed by that,” she said.

Like Mr Manfredonia, Ms Llodra said she plans to be a very “hands-on” administrator.

“NHS is the jewel in this district’s crown,” she said.