Sarra Chosen as Next Superintendent
By Robin Vinci | Editor at February 25, 2024 | 6:15 pm | Print
Nancy Sarra makes an acceptance speech Monday night to a crowd of over 200 after being named the new Superintendent of Schools.
A crowd of over 200 people stood up and applauded as Nancy Sarra walked into the lecture hall at New Britain High School before the final approval of being named new superintendent of schools on Monday night.
Among Sarra’s family, friends and colleagues, the Board of Education unanimously made the approval for the term of April 1, 2024 through June 2019. Her final contract will be voted upon in March.
“I’m humbled and honored by tonight’s show of support,” said Sarra. “This turnout is a testament to our relationship. To our collective spirit and collective strength and raising New Britain’s children all together. The most important thing is for all of us to walk in stride with focus and purpose knowing we are in pursuit of excellence one student at a time. One staff member at a time.”
Sarra added, “Team New Britain it is our time to shine. This is day one of my mantra ‘We are the best at getting better’.”
Prior to the approval several people spoke in favor of Sarra during public audience.
“The person you are about to select is a ‘homer’. Someone who was born and raised and decided to stay here,” said Mark Bernacki. “Nancy chose to live in New Britain and I am very happy you are choosing her. We need to stand behind her.”
“I recently pulled my two daughters out of private schools and brought them to New Britain. They are the two things I love the most in the world and I put it all in Nancy’s lap. No pressure,” said Sal Escobales, union president. “Many good candidates came through and Nancy is a New Britain star.”
“We are headed back in the right direction and ready to take our place where we once were at the top,” said Linda Skoglund.
There were 28 people who participated on three separate interview teams, bringing close to the process of finding a new Superintendent that began back in October. The panels represented a broad cross section of stakeholders from parents, community members, teachers, para-educators, administrators and building secretaries.
In January, each committee developed their own set of ten interview questions. Five candidates – all of them strong, well-qualified and full of various talents and experiences – interviewed throughout the day. After careful consideration and thoughtful discussion, all three committees independently came to the same conclusion that one candidate stood out as the clear choice for the district at this point in time.
“We are here to start the complete turnaround. All the people who say negative things about the New Britain School System couldn’t be more wrong. We are going to sit here with new leadership and right this ship,” said Mayor Erin Stewart. “This was a no-brainer. It was an easy decision. We are going to do amazing things.”
“When this process started we needed to look at the best candidates and I did not care if it came from inside New Britain or outside. Our students deserve the best and it happens the best candidate we found came from inside New Britain. It was a lengthy detailed process. Everyone’s voices were heard,” said Nicholas Mercier, vice president of the board of education. “ It was not choosing candidates because she is one of our own. She is the best candidate for this job and I can’t wait to see the amazing work she will do.”
“I am going into my 11th year and will leave at the end of my 12th and want to leave the school better than I found it,” said School Board President Sharon Beloin Saavedra. “That is my goal tonight.”
Sarra has already created a detailed entry plan, which includes meeting with the Board of Education, Central Office staff, building administrators, teachers, para-educators, building support staff, community partners, parents and students. At the Board of Education meeting in August, Sarra will present a detailed report on the collective findings from stakeholder groups with an initial draft strategic plan facilitator.
Having worked in the district for the last 20 years and also having grown up in New Britain, Sarra is one that knows the city and schools well. She has been a teacher, principal and for the past three years, the Director of Teaching and Learning, where she built and re-built an infrastructure of district-wide processes and procedures to better meet the needs of all staff and students.
