Middletown School District Earns National Recognition

MIDDLETOWN, CT — The Middletown Public School district has been named a National Innovative District by the International Center for Leadership in Education, Superintendent of Schools Michael Conner announced Thursday. Middletown is one of only a select few recognized districts across the country to receive the honor for 2020, according to a news release.

Conner, along with other members of the district’s grants, innovation and academic teams will accept the honor, at the Connect with Courage National Model Schools Conference, in Orlando, Florida in late June.

“I am thrilled for our district,” Conner said in a statement. “It recognizes the tremendous work our team has done, and to borrow a phrase ‘innovate by design.’ To push the envelope and not accept things as they are or have been but to think big and to go for it, on behalf of our kids.

“We are seeing the academic fruit of the seeds we’ve planted over the last two and half years. Makerspaces, which sponsor creativity in learning at our elementary schools, an innovation hub planned for our new middle school, teaching and learning across the entire district supplemented by new digital technologies and progressive approaches. All of it, adds up to success, and we know, success only breeds more success.”

The June conference is host to more than 5,000 educators and nearly 300 professional development sessions on variety of educational topics. It showcases Model Schools and Innovative Districts, like Middletown, that have “seen rapid improvement and transformation in student learning,” according to the news release. “In addition to receiving their awards, the named 2020 innovative school districts, including the MPS team, will present the innovative measures that have been implemented and the corresponding student growth that has been achieved.”

Middletown Board of Education Chairwoman Deborah Cain also praised the achievement.

“Congratulations to Dr. Conner and the entire team,” Cain said. “It’s really a recognition for every teacher and staff member working with all our students across the whole district. This makes me very happy so see and hear. As board chair, I know the hard work and dedication Dr. Conner and the entire district has shown, toward not only achieving academically, but to ensuring all our students have the latest innovative tools and approaches at their disposal, to grow and learn.”