Martin School Principal to Retire in June

Manchester will be saying goodbye to a long time educator in the school district come June.

Donna Fitzgerald, principal of Martin Elementary School, will retire at the end of the school year, and for many parents, teachers, administrators, and students, she will be dearly missed.

"I've spent my whole career in Manchester," said Fitzgerald, who as an art major earned her Bachelor of Science degree at Southern Connecticut State University and her Master's from Central Connecticut State University. She arrived at Illing Middle School in 1975, where she taught painting, drawing, graphic design and photography. In 1992 Fitzgerald took on the job of Assistant Principal at Illing, a position she held for the next four years. In 1996, she became principal of Martin Elementary School.

"I'm completing my thirty-sixth year [in education]," said Fitzgerald. "Parenting has changed, but children are still children. Our job is to help them learn intellectually, socially, emotionally and physically," she said.

Fitzgerald said education has changed a great deal over the years. To begin with, in the Manchester district she said there has been a reconfiguration of grade levels within buildings with a philosophical shift from a junior high model to a middle school one.

"We know more about teaching and learning now than ever," said Fitzgerald, adding that much of the teaching profession's new knowledge can be attributed to brain research, specifically how the brain processes information. "This knowledge is vital when teaching students to read, for instance," said Fitzgerald. "We have also learned how to design brain-compatible learning experiences and activities."

Fitzgerald added that teachers have not only shifted from how they teach, but they have also defined what to teach. "National and state standards have been identified and used to structure the content and skill development," she said.

"The tools we use to teach have also changed," said Fitzgerald. She said technology has enabled students to come to school knowing much more about a particular topic and as a result, teachers need to focus on more than just content, but also what it means to be a learner in a technological society.

As a principal, Fitzgerald said it is her overall job to be the instructional leader in her school. "[Principals] set school policy, monitor student achievement, analyze best models for instruction, hire and evaluate teachers, put together budgets, set goals, and write grants and reports," she said. "And through it all, we always, always are collaborating with parents and teachers, and sometimes students where appropriate."

In her long career, Fitzgerald has served on numerous boards and committees related to education and can claim many accomplishments. However, one accomplishment she is most proud of is her success in having Martin Elementary School designated as a Higher Order Thinking – or HOT – School.

"Donna gently and confidently ushered Martin Elementary into the HOT Schools Network in 1998," said Bonnie Koba, Arts in Education Program Manager with the Connecticut Commission on Culture & Tourism. 

Established in 1994, the Higher Order Thinking program works with select Connecticut schools to promote teaching and learning in, about and through the arts in a democratic setting, Koba said. 

"In a day and age where we are so data driven, HOT Schools focus on resiliency, creativity, and creating good thinkers," said Fitzgerald. "[As a HOT School], we are working on the whole child."

Since Martin Elementary School became a HOT School, Fitzgerald has hosted several HOT school events, conducted workshops, and served on several committees and research/study groups, Koba said. She added that part of Fitzgerald's most significant legacy to HOT Schools has been her work on developing the HOT Schools Rubric, a document which has been borrowed and adapted by schools across the nation who are interested in developing a plan for and assessing progress toward school improvement through the arts. "That widely used document echo's Donna's voice and wisdom throughout, "Koba said.

"Her HOT Schools family is happy for Donna to be embarking on this well-earned, new chapter in her life, but we will dearly miss her leadership, voice of reason, camaraderie, and up-beat, can-do attitude," said Koba.

Kathleen Ouellette, Manchester Superintendent of Schools, concurs.

"[Fitzgerald has] been an exceptional leader for this district, a lead problem solver working in any type of implementation for any type of initiative," said Ouellette. "She understands assessments and provides her staff time to examine data on a continual basis to drive instruction."

Ouellette added that Fitzgerald has proven to be a great colleague over the years, setting high standards for herself, monitoring all facets of school life, and making sure exceptional learning standards are upheld.

Additionally, in Fitzgerald's previous role as president of the Manchester School Administrator's Association, Ouellette said she has been a tremendous liaison with administrators and the central office team.

"She has always facilitated collaboration, cooperation, and trust," said Ouellette. "She's a team player.  She's one-of-a-kind, and we'll miss her."

 As for her future plans, Fitzgerald said she is currently weighing her options. An adjunct professor at CCSU, she said she may return to teaching art at the university level. She might also like to do some museum work, having previously trained docents at the Wadsworth Atheneum.

"And, of course, I will go back to doing my own art work," she said.

Fitzgerald said she might also be interested in an interim principalship, professional development, and consultant work.

"I've worked in education on both the state and national level. I've written books and articles," said Fitzgerald. "I just feel we have to give back to our profession, and work to make it better."