New Canaan Public Schools Retirees Honored

NEW CANAAN, CT — From New Canaan Public Schools: New Canaan Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Bryan Luizzi recognized seven retiring teachers and administrators at the Board of Education meeting which took place June 4, 2018. Retirees recognized were Greg Macedo, Principal at Saxe Middle School, Lou Marinelli, PE Teacher at NCHS (who will remain as Rams Football head coach), Carol Dacey, Special Education Instructional Leader at South Elementary School, Colleen Durkin, Math Teacher at Saxe, Peggy DeSantis, Art Teacher at East Elementary School, Josef Graham, Math Teacher at Saxe, and Rob Polley, Technical Integrator at East School.

Greg Macedo has helmed Saxe Middle School as principal for 25 years, in a career in education that has spanned 39 years. His vision significantly enhanced the overall quality of Saxe school, and a “Macedo effect” definitely permeates school wide. Throughout his tenure, he experienced and oversaw a remarkable number of changes at the middle school, both in class composition and physical size including the recently completed 2016-2018 Saxe construction project. “Working alongside Greg Macedo has been a highlight of my career that I will always cherish,” said Dr. Luizzi, “and I know I am joined by hundreds of colleagues and thousands of students in wishing him the very best in the years ahead.”

Lou Marinelli has dedicated 31 years to the high school as a PE Teacher and Head Football
Coach. “His compassion and care for his players is a gift that is unrelated to a player’s talent or
athletic stature,” said Dr. Luizzi. “Lou believes that every kid who wants to play for the Rams
should be welcomed onto the team. Regardless of playing time, Lou has shown time and again
that the commitment and discipline that Football teaches students can provide lifelong lessons for
them in their development into young adults.” Although he is retiring from his role as PE teacher,
Mr. Marinelli will remain at NCHS as the Head Football Coach and continue as Connecticut’s
winningest high school football coach of all time.

Carol Dacey retires after 13 years of service in New Canaan. Most recently, she served as the
Special Education Instructional Leader at South School. Throughout her time in the district, she
has worked with grade levels K-4 forming strong bonds with her students and being very
dedicated to them and their families. “Carol goes above and beyond in her efforts to keep parents
informed of their child’s progress, and establishes positive, trusting relationships with them as a
result. She is insightful, productive, and consistent, and has been a wonderful teacher and
colleague at South these past 13 years,” said Dr. Luizzi.

Colleen Durkin is retiring after 18 years of teaching in the 7th and 8th grade math programs at
Saxe Middle School. One of her most notable traits was her ability to keep the student at the
center of her instruction, and she was an early proponent of Differentiation and Personalized
Learning. She shared her observations and experimentations with individualized learning so that
the whole department continues to consider new methods and approaches.

Peggy DeSantis worked 15 years as an Art Teacher at East School. She is a hardworking,
dedicated, creative professional who orchestrated collaborative groups of students in her art
classes all year long to create beautiful murals of varying themes. She always supported her
fellow teachers and has been an active member in the East community and in the arts and
learning communities of the district and town.

Josef Graham retires after 38 years working in the district as a Math Teacher. He began his
career at New Canaan High School and later joined Saxe where he taught in all three grades. He
led the middle school into the very early days of what is now known as STEM, when he taught a
“mini-course” of Math, Science and Technology (MST) to all students who rotated through various
programmed learning modules

Rob Polley has been a certified teacher at New Canaan for the past 20 years. He started his
tenure in the district two years before, first as a 7th grade Special Education Aide at Saxe, and
then as a Teacher Assistant at East, which what would be his instructional home for the
remainder of his time in New Canaan. He was an integral part of the East Technology Leadership
Committee and thrived in his role as tech integrator evolving even further as coach and
collaborator in this area.

Photo: Dr. Bryan Luizzi, New Canaan Public Schools Superintendent, left, pictured with Greg Macedo, who is retiring after serving 25 years as Saxe Middle School principal. Photo credit: New Canaan Public Schools

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