New Assistant Schools Superintendent Named In Middletown

MIDDLETOWN, CT — Jennifer Cannata was named assistant superintendent of Middletown Public Schools at a special Board of Education on Tuesday night.

In her new role, Cannata will oversee the Human Resources and Technology departments. She will also supervise the Operations Department while the district’s chief of operations position is temporarily vacant, according to a news release.

Cannata, a lifelong Middletown resident, has spent all but one year of her career with Middletown Public Schools.

Starting as a teacher at Farm Hill Elementary School, Cannata has also held the positions of Reading Recovery Teacher (Spencer), Elementary Technology Specialist (Moody), Elementary Instructional Support Teacher (Moody and Macdonough), Principal (Snow and Moody).

Before being named Assistant Superintendent of Schools, Cannata was the Director of Performance Management and Strategic Processes, a district-level position that was eliminated as Superintendent Alberto Vazquez Matos reorganizes the Superintendent’s Cabinet, according to the news release.

Cannata holds a Bachelor’s of Arts in Sociology, a Master of Science degree in Elementary Education, a Master’s of Arts in Learning and Thinking, and two administrative endorsements from the Connecticut State Department of Education, the news release states.

“Anyone who has worked with Ms. Cannata knows well that she has an exceptional ability to navigate challenging situations with remarkable grace, humor, and humility, all the while holding firm to what is right and what needs to be done,” Vazquez Matos said in the news release. “We are extraordinarily lucky to have Ms. Cannata in our district, and now, as our Assistant Superintendent.”

Board of Education Chair Deborah Chin said Cannata is a “well-respected person in the community and certainly someone who teachers and administrators hold in high regard.”

The appointment was effective immediately.

“I’m excited to work alongside Dr. Vazquez Matos as we develop a vision for Middletown Public Schools,” Cannata said. “I’m looking forward to working collaboratively with others to ensure that we’re utilizing best practices for supervision, staff development, and performances management, with the overarching goal of positively influencing the climate and culture of our school district.”