New Rockville H.S. Principal Magao: 'These Are My Kids'

VERNON, CT — Jason Magao was pulling no punches on Tuesday when asked about his "permanent" appointment as the new Rockville High School principal.

"These are my kids," he said. "Vernon is my town, when it comes to education. Rockville High School is a good school and we're going to make it even better. And ... we're going to make sure everyone knows that."

Yes, the 45-year-old Magao has been the interim principal since last month and yes, he's been in the Vernon school system for a dozen years, the last few as director of teaching and learning. But Monday's appointment by Superintendent of Schools Joeph Macary and the endorsement of the local school board seemed to light a karma-like spark in him.

"Next year will be my 13th and I started here when this group of seniors was in kindergarten," he said. "That's fiitting, I think. This is where I'm needed and this is where I want to be."

Magao will officially be the permanent RHS principal on July 1, but he has been the interim for the better part of a month after RHS principal Susan Czapla went out on "family medical leave." She has since submitted her retirement papers, Macary said. He added there are no disciplinary documents in her file. The contracted salary for the position is just more that $150,000, he said.

"It was a no-brainer," Macary said of Magao's appointment. "Jason is a great fit. He understands teaching and leaning. He understands curriculum. Rockville High School is not broken, but Jason will bring sustainability and leadership. He's a good communicator and will hold everyone to a high standard. Jason fits all those pieces of the puzzle."

Current Maple Street School principal Melissa Trantolo has been named director of teaching and learning for the elementary level, an appointment Macary said "will only make us stronger."

The system is now seeking a new Maple Street principal and secondary school director of teaching and learning, Macary said.

Back to Magao.

Even an emergency root canal Tuesday morning couldn't spoil his good mood.

"No it won't," he said. "I'm driving around eastern Connecticut after finding a periodontal office that's actually open, but I'm thinking about what I will be doing at Rockville. We need to stabilize the building and build a center of excellence from academics to sports to the robotics team to the band to the Agricultural Science and Technology Education program. These are great kids and this is a great school and we will do it."