Diversity Chief Named At West Hartford Public Schools

West Hartford Public Schools

WEST HARTFORD, CT — Local school officials Wednesday announced the hiring of a new chief diversity officer for the school sytem.

West Hartford Superintendent of Schools Paul Vicinus said Theresa Rangel is the new West Hartford Public Schools Executive Director of Equity Advancement effective Sept. 1.

“Theresa is a dynamic and inspiring leader with incredible talent for collaboration and consensus building. Her vision and experience within the realm of diversity, equity and inclusion will greatly enhance and enable our district vision to clear paths with a relentless duty to those in traditionally marginalized groups," said Vicinus in a statement. "We are excited to have her on our leadership team and leading our district’s Diversity Equity and Inclusion mission.”

Rangel had a similar position for the Naugatuck Public Schools and has more than nine years of building and curriculum leadership in the Norwalk, Newington and Danbury school systems.

She began her career as an elementary school teacher with Danbury Public Schools.

In her role in West Hartford, she will directly contribute and support district strategic planning, professional learning, curriculum enhancement and support for developing the best learning environments.

As a building principal in Naugatuck, she led efforts to enhance student achievement, decrease achievement gaps across all subgroups and attain national Blue-Ribbon status.

“She brings outstanding perspective, vision, intelligence, human relations skills, communication and partnering skills that will greatly contribute to team cohesiveness and the establishment of and sustainment of strong community partnerships,” Vicinus said.

Rangel is a graduate of the University of Connecticut’s Executive Leadership Program.

She earned her bachelor’s degree in elementary and Spanish education and a master’s degree in instructional technology from Western Connecticut State University in Danbury.

In addition, she holds a master’s in education administration from Sacred Heart University in Fairfield.

She is a 2019 recipient of the “Child of America Award” from the Carver Foundation and a 2018 Darling Shaw Outstanding Alumni Award winner from WCSU.

For more information on the West Hartford school system, click on this link.