Back with more #100DistrictConversations this week! I'm excited to share this conversation with a Connecticut leader who is both innovative and practical. Conversation #93 is with Dr. Cynthia Ritchie, Superintendent of New London Public Schools. As I've gotten to know and learn from her this year, I'm impressed with how she builds strong systems while creatively dreaming about what's possible. Her leadership is paying dividends in New London, with one of her schools achieving Connecticut Middle School of the Year!

"Every person in our system should be engaged in learning every single day, and we've built structures to make that type of ongoing professional learning a reality.

Our district cabinet meets regularly, and our administrative team (including supervisors) gathers four additional times per year to focus on systems development. PD sessions are repeated in morning/afternoon sessions, so that admins can sign up and mix across buildings, creating in-person community and shared learning, while also ensuring that school building always have administrators present.

One of the models I believe in most is our classroom walkthrough and data review cycle. Every two weeks, our secondary-level teams conduct walkthroughs using a shared rubric, then gather to discuss what teachers need and where to focus next. I've participated multiple times this year and both me and the entire faculty of teachers and staff at each school, receive written reports summarizing each visit. Our Assistant Superintendent, Dr. Jennifer Hills-Papetti helps drive this work alongside principals and instructional coaches who provide critical 1:1 support with teachers. A state consultant adds accountability.

This work is paying off: our MS was recently named Connecticut Middle School of the Year! Our school community culture is strong, and that's driving attendance, engagement, and growth in a building where many students experience significant societal challenges such as housing instability.

We have three hours per month of contracted teacher PD built into each school’s master schedule. At the secondary level, two hours are choice-based, elevating teachers as experts and building community; no more closed classroom doors. That model is thriving at the MS and HS levels and expanding to elementary next year. Our paras also participate in PL during early release Wednesdays, supported by community partners. Every principal sends a monthly data report to staff and families addressing their school improvement plan goals and assessment results.

Looking ahead, we continue to work incredibly hard to plan differentiated PD options to help our teachers become experts in the areas they need to be, so they can plan to meet the unique needs of each student. As a district with over 24% of students identified with special needs and 30% as multilingual learners, we must focus on continuing to build capacity in differentiated instruction and classroom strategies.

This is an aim for ALL teachers and support staff, not just certain departments, working together to develop stronger, more comprehensive systems around our community of learners. We're also leaning into AI, using it for PL with our leadership team first, to support data-informed decisions, and we see real potential to build on this momentum."