New London — The school district is searching for its next principal for C.B. Jennings International Elementary Magnet School.

Carol Paldino, the principal at Jennings since 2018 and the assistant principal prior to that, has accepted a job in a new position as supervisor of special education for the Planning and Placement Team and parent advocacy, Superintendent Cynthia Ritchie announced recently. The position is part of the district's School and Family Support Department.

The new position is being funded with federal pandemic aid and aimed in part at supporting students who are both special education and English language learners.

“We are thrilled that Ms. Paldino will begin leading work supporting dually identified (special education and English language) students and their families across the district,” Ritchie said in a statement. “All will benefit from the differentiated supports and strong, supportive relationships, centered both on programming and on family/school collaboration around (Individualized Education Program) goals and objectives, ensuring student success.”

Valerie Kelsey, executive director of Student Support Services, said in a statement that Paldino will focus on assisting parents in understanding “educational evaluations and the planning and implementation of Individualized Education Plans, especially for non-English speaking parents."

Paldino announced the news in a July 6 letter to Jennings school families, saying she was excited by the opportunity.

“Leaving Jennings is bittersweet for me. During my tenure at C.B. Jennings, I met precious children, wonderful parents, and dedicated teachers and staff. As assistant principal and then principal, I have learned much from each of you and I appreciate you all for that," she wrote. "The dedication of our students, staff and families has always been a source of Jennings Schools pride.”

Students and families are expected to be invited to participate in a recruitment and hiring committee for the next principal. That person will lead a school in transition. The State Department of Education earlier this year approved the district’s operations plan for Jennings to open in the fall as a state-authorized magnet school for kindergarten.

It is in the candidacy phase to become an International Baccalaureate school, which is the district’s third and final magnet pathway. The IB program is expected to grow to a K-12 program in the district and accompany the arts and STEM magnet pathways.  

There will be a phased rollout for adding out-of-district students at Jennings — one grade level per year with a goal of being fully magnet through fifth grade in 2026.

Harbor School Principal Jason Foster has been temporarily assigned to Jennings for the summer while the district performs renovations at Harbor.

g.smith@theday.com