New principal hired for THS

Skarzynski to begin job in July

TORRINGTON » Andrew Skarzynski, recently hired as the new principal for Torrington High School, says he hopes to build on the strengths of staff and of the institution as he takes on the position.

Skarzynski comes to Torrington from the Capitol Regional Education Council, according to the district, where he served as a Principal in Residence and Leadership Consultant for Hartford magnet schools.

He said Wednesday that he had worked for CREC for 11 years, but was attracted to the new opportunity by the tradition and legacy of Torrington High School.

“I’m thrilled,” said Skarzynski. “I think Torrington is a great community.”

Skarzynski plans to take a collaborative approach to leadership and decisionmaking at the city high school, he said, with the hopes of spurring staff to perform to their highest capacity.

“I’m an approachable and accessible leader,” said Skarzynski. “My role is to help other people perform at their best.”

Skarzynski said he planned to put structures in place for “student-centered learning” at the high school.

Preparing for the accreditation process by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges, he said, is also a priority.

Skarzynski’s start date as Torrington High School principal, according to the district, is July 1. He said Wednesday he hopes to have a presence in the district before then, while being respectful of current principal Lynda Reitman, who retires at the end of the year.

Skarzynski “brings a wealth of valuable experience as a high school leader,” district officials wrote in an announcement, including wisdom drawn from his time as the principal of the CREC Medical Professions and Teacher Prep Academy, “where he developed a number of strategies including the creation of a teacher leadership series, expansion of family engagement outreach, increasing the impact and reach of minority teacher recruitment and building capacity in his schools.”

In the announcement, Skarzynski stated that “(a) school leader must be able to build a sense of community among all the learning community’s stakeholders” while responding to the district, and that “(c) ourage and passion both demonstrate and empower the determination, drive and resiliency necessary to initiate, develop and implement a vision.”

“We look forward to Andrew’s leadership and future success at Torrington High School,” district officials wrote.

Reitman was appointed as acting principal at Torrington High School before the current school year, following a stint as interim superintendent. The Board of Education accepted her submitted intention to retire in March.