Stratford Administrator Honored As CAS Elementary Assistant Principal Of The Year

STRATFORD, CT — Eli Whitney Elementary School Assistant Principal Lea DiStefano was honored at last week’s Town Council meeting for recently being named the Connecticut Association of Schools’ 2026 Elementary School Assistant Principal of the Year.

“Assistant Principal DiStefano’s colleagues and students have said that her leadership has helped transform school culture through initiatives that amplify student voice, including Student Council and Student Advisory, where students design and lead schoolwide projects that address real needs in the community,” Mayor David Chess wrote in a post on Facebook. “Assistant Principal DiStefano has also launched instructional rounds and lesson study cycles that enable teachers to learn from one another and refine practices together, which are now being replicated across the district.

“Assistant Principal DiStefano is widely respected for her collaborative approach, and Stratford families consistently describe her as a trusted bridge between home and school.”

DiStefano was nominated for the CAS honor by district colleague Lisa Saunders, who is assistant principal at Nichols Elementary School in Stratford.

“Known for leading with empathy, purpose, and collaboration, DiStefano places relationships, student voice, and instructional excellence at the center of everything she does,” according to a post on the CAS website. “Colleagues describe her as a leader who looks beyond numbers to truly understand children and their experiences. ‘Her warmth and care drive everything she does,’ shared one staff member. ‘You can feel the love she has for every child and every family.’”

Read more about DiStefano’s selection as the Connecticut Association of Schools’ 2026 Elementary School Assistant Principal of the Year here.