Norwich — A week before learning whether she will be confirmed as state education commissioner, Dianna R. Wentzell was greeted with roses, cheers and a roomful of praise for the state Commissioner’s Network program that has provided additional funding to the John B. Stanton School in Norwich to turn around the struggling school.

Wentzell, who has served as interim commissioner since January and previously as chief academic officer in the state Department of Education, Friday morning made Stanton school her first public school visit in her new role.

About 20 students in fourth and fifth grade lined the main hallway outside the school library, and each handed Wentzell a rose as she walked to the library to meet with staff and parents.

Stanton and Uncas elementary schools in Norwich are among 16 Commissioner’s Network schools in the state receiving additional state funding to implement state-approved improvement plans. In addition, the entire Norwich district receives state Alliance District funding to hire additional staff and implement improvement plans.

About 30 district administrators, teachers and parents from both Stanton and Uncas schools, Board of Education members and Stanton students met with Wentzell in the library prior to a brief tour of the school and several classrooms.

Wentzell said in Hartford, she and other state education officials often mention Stanton and Uncas when questions are asked about whether the Network and Alliance programs are working.

“I’m honored to be here,” Wentzell said. “I’m really excited this is my first official visit. We talk about Uncas and Stanton all the time. We have some superstars to share.”

Norwich receives nearly $3.9 million in Alliance District funding per year, and this year received nearly $900,000 for the third year of Stanton’s Network School funding and $601,754 for Uncas’ first year as a Network School. In addition, each school qualified for state bond money for physical improvements. Stanton constructed new handicapped ramps and bathrooms and connected the main school building to two portable bilingual classrooms.

At Uncas, the bond money built walls, Principal Jason Foster said. Uncas was designed under the “open classroom” format of decades ago, and the three new walls created more defined classrooms.

Inside the schools, funding has paid for classroom interventionists who work with students in small group settings, family liaisons, counselors and program materials.

But the program does more than provide tangible assistance, Foster said of his traditional neighborhood school.

“You can feel the change,” Foster said. “Students are excited about taking their tests. It’s not something that’s scary anymore.”

Students in all the schools are taking the state standardized tests this week, which caused Wentzell’s school tour to be somewhat truncated to avoid disturbing classes in testing.

Wentzell also noticed the intangibles at Stanton during the tour. Outside every classroom is a sign giving the grade attendance for the day. A sign for staff attendance is outside the office door. Sometimes, Stanton Principal Billie Shea said, there’s a competition between staff and students.

“I can see why there’s 100 percent attendance,” Wentzell said of some of the signs.

On their way back to the library for more discussion, four students who participated in the talks — fifth-graders Adriana Abad-Fong, Giavonna McGill, Ashley Bayer and Mason Bordeau — insisted on a quick detour so they could introduce their teacher, George Serra, to Wentzell.

“Anytime it seems really hard,” Wentzell said after the tour, “take a walk down these hallways.”

c.bessette@theday.com

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