L to R: Mr. Brian Flaherty; Ms. Karen Hosking; Chairwoman Leslie Crotty; Principal Laura Meka; Assistant Principal Alison Carmody and Family; Dr. Villanueva; Ms. Cindy Eastman; Mr. Jason Malagutti; Ms. Janelle Wilk (virtual); Ms. Josephine Rosa (virtual).
Press Release for Immediate Release
Contact: Dr. Alison Villanueva, Superintendent of Schools
MS. ALISON CARMODY APPOINTED AS ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL AT JTPS
On Wednesday July 14, 2021 at a special Board of Education meeting, the BOE unanimously named Ms. Alison Carmody the new Assistant Principal of John Trumbull Primary School. Ms. Carmody will officially begin on Monday, August 16, 2021
Ms. Carmody was most recently an elementary supervisor, also known as an assistant principal, at Ridgebury and Farmingville Elementary Schools in Ridgefield, CT where she led special education teams through the PPT process and oversaw the development and implementation of IEPs. She also led Multi-Tiered Support Service (MTSS) meetings, and worked with faculty to implement interventions, progress monitoring tools, and enrichment opportunities for students among a number of other initiatives.
Prior to being named assistant principal, Carmody was Literacy Coach at Branchville Elementary and then promoted to the Lead Elementary Literacy Coach for the district in Ridgefield, CT. Mr. Margolus, Principal of Branchville Elementary shared that, “Alison has been a trusted teammate, thought partner, and valued member of her school and district communities”. Margolus believes, “her professional and personal qualities make her an asset to any school district”. Carmody is dedicated to developing strong, trusting relationships with families where the child's best interest was always at the forefront of a partnership. She looks forward to collaborating and reflecting with teachers and believes in her own continuous professional growth and is ready to learn and take chances alongside teachers at JTPS to positively impact student learning.
Principal of JTPS Laura Meka shared, “I am so excited to begin our work together. Alison Carmody’s experience and skill set will fill our gaps and help continue the great work of John Trumbull Primary School.” Carmody was also a SRBI (Scientifically Research Based Instruction) specialist at Ox Ridge Elementary School in Darien, CT where she was a key leader, facilitator, and implementer of professional development and a systematic SRBI plan to support K-5 classroom educators to identify students in need of intervention and she designed plans to improve student outcomes through specific strategies and interventions.
Carmody started her career as a special education teacher in Waterbury, CT at F.J. Kingsbury School and also taught fourth and fifth grade in Massachusetts. Board Chair Leslie Crotty shared that “Ms. Carmody brings with her a wealth of knowledge and experience in several focus areas that will promote much of the work that is moving forward in the Watertown Public Schools”. Her understanding and commitment to the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence’s RULER philosophy; background in Harvard’s Data Wise process; certifications in Structured Language specific to dyslexia; deep understanding of elementary literacy acquisition; and experience working with the crisis prevention institute are key certifications that complement the work of the Watertown Public Schools and will be a tremendous asset to the JTPS community.
Superintendent, Dr. Alison Villanueva shared, “we are delighted to have Ms. Carmody join the Watertown Public Schools and out of over 100 applicants for the Assistant Principal position, Ms. Carmody’s background in coaching; experience as an administrator; and knowledge of the Watertown community, as she is a resident of nearby Middlebury, CT, made her stand out from the pack. Having Ms. Carmody join Principal Laura Meka’s team at John Trumbull Primary School this year is most definitely a home run!”
Ms. Carmody earned her 6th year certificate in Educational Leadership from Southern CT State University; a Masters of Education in Literacy and Language from Framingham State College in MA; and a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary and Special Education from Providence College in RI.