Easton-Redding-Region 9 Names New Schools Superintendent

EASTON/REDDING, CT — The Easton, Redding, and Region 9 Boards of Education has named Jason McKinnon as their next superintendent of schools.

McKinnon, currently the superintendent of schools in Oxford, was selected from a pool of twenty applicants, according to a news release from the districts issued Tuesday.

Prior to being named Superintendent in Oxford in 2019, McKinnon served as assistant superintendent in New Fairfield for five years, and principal of Branchville Elementary School in Ridgefield for ten. He began his teaching career as a special education teacher in Westport.

The new gig is a long overdue homecoming for McKinnon, whose student teaching experience was at Redding Elementary School.

"We look forward to starting the school year with Dr. McKinnon and welcoming him back to ER9," said Region 9 Chairperson Todd Johnston said. "His educational experiences and leadership will be an asset as the districts come out of the pandemic and close the educational gap it created."

McKinnon takes over as superintendent from Rydell Harrison, who resigned after 10 months in June. Former superintendent Thomas McMorran has been serving as interim superintendent since July 20.

The Search Steering Committee co-chair Cheryl Graziano called the new superintendent, "an enthusiastic leader who will collaborate with our ER9 teams and the Redding and Easton communities to promote a welcoming and supportive learning environment where our students can grow and succeed."

McKinnon holds a doctoral degree in instructional leadership from Western Connecticut State University and is an alumnus of its Advanced Superintendent Program. He received his undergraduate and master’s degrees from Flinders University in his native Australia.

Of his appointment, McKinnon said, “I am deeply honored to have been selected as the new superintendent of the Easton, Redding and Region 9 School Districts. I look forward to meeting students and working collaboratively with the school boards, staff, families and school communities. The ER9 school districts have a reputation for educational excellence and together we can continue this mission."

McKinnon's official start date is being negotiated.