New Assistant Principal Named At Naugatuck Middle School

NAUGATUCK, CT — Naugatuck Public Schools has announced Rohinie Criscione has been named the new assistant principal at City Hill Middle School.

According to a news release, Criscione will replace Frank Jawidzik, who is leaving Naugatuck for another position.

Criscione comes to Naugatuck as a well-seasoned educator from West Side Middle School in Waterbury, where she served as house principal since 2014.

As house principal, Criscione worked to provide a rigorous curriculum to support a diverse group of learners. She mentored students to encourage them to advocate for themselves and promote a positive culture through strong relationships, according to the district.

Criscione is well-versed in school wide systems for school improvement that are aligned with school and district vision. In addition, she spent 12 years as a classroom teacher at the elementary and middle school level in Waterbury, according to the district.

"Continuous improvement requires the courage to change," Criscione said in a news release.

For the past year, Criscione has also worked as a team leader in Gov. Ned Lamont's initiative to address students struggling with absenteeism and disengagement during the coronavirus crisis. There, she recruited and trained staff to address chronic absenteeism and rebuild partnerships with students and families while reconnecting them to supports, according to the district.