Danbury Educator Named 2024 Connecticut Principal Of Year

DANBURY, CT — The Connecticut Association of Schools has named Kristy Zaleta, principal of Rogers Park Middle School, the 2024 Middle School Principal of the Year.

Zaleta has also been chosen as the 2024 State Principal of the Year for Connecticut and will represent the state at the State Principals of the Year event in Washington, D.C.

Before her current role, Zaleta served as the associate principal of Instruction for the three middle schools in Danbury. Her career in education began at Rogers Park Middle School, where she spent 10 years as an 8th-grade science teacher. During this time, she was honored as Danbury’s 2013 Teacher of the Year and received the Connecticut Excellence in Middle School Science Teaching Award. She is in her 21st year with Danbury Public Schools and her 6th year as Principal of Rogers Park.

Education is Zaleta's second career. She previously worked for eight years as a research scientist. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Biology from Montclair State University, a Master of Science in Education with a concentration in Instructional Technology, and a Doctorate in Instructional Leadership from Western Connecticut State University, where she also serves as an adjunct professor.

Kara Casimiro, Danbury’s schools superintendent, commended Zaleta in a news release: "Kristy sets a high bar for data driven work in her school. As a result, the culture around evidence based decision making has grown under her leadership. She is an example for other leaders to follow."

Zaleta will be honored at a recognition dinner hosted by CAS in October.