Region: Former New London High School principal under investigation

Thompson on paid leave while ‘possible unprofessional conduct’ is looked into by district

New London — The longtime former principal of New London High School, William “Tommy” Thompson, is the subject of an investigation by the school district for “possible unprofessional conduct and violation of Board Policies.”

Thompson was placed on paid administrative leave July 1 and remained on leave as of Monday. The school district has not disclosed the reason for the investigation and Superintendent Cynthia Ritchie, when contacted last week, said she could not comment on a personnel matter.

Thompson is currently the director of secondary-level curriculum, instruction, assessment, intervention and professional development. Attorneys Kristi Kelly and Theodore Heiser of the law firm Suisman Shapiro are legal counsel to Thompson’s union, the New London Administrators’ Education Association. They provided the following statement on Thompson’s behalf:

“Mr. Thompson is a well-respected, long term employee of New London

Public Schools credited with achieving stellar results and positive contributions for New London schools. At this time, despite the passage of nearly seven weeks since he was placed on paid administrative leave, neither Thompson nor the Association has been provided with much detail and/or evidence indicating in any way that that the leave of absence and/or the on-going investigation is warranted,” the statement reads.

“Given the limited information that has been shared with us by the district, Thompson denies all the allegations made against him that he engaged in any misconduct or unprofessional conduct. He has always provided upstanding services to the New London Public Schools and looks forward to a prompt resolution of this matter so that he can return to work ... . ”

Thompson was not immediately available for comment.

The July 1 notice to Thompson from the school district Human Resource Director Robert Stacy about Thompson’s placement on leave, obtained by The Day through a Freedom of Information request, states “this letter serves as follow up to our conversation today where you were placed on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of our investigation.”

Stacy did not return emails seeking further explanation.

Thompson was told that, during his time on leave, he would not have access to his district-issued technology, email, Office 365 account, cellphone or district buildings.

He also was told in the letter to remain available to work when called back. The terms are standard when a district employee is placed on leave.

Thompson, with more than two decades as an educator, was serving as high school principal when he was moved to the role of curriculum director in June 2019. The move came as part of a restructuring of administrative roles throughout the district by Ritchie. A new position, director of the New London Multi-Magnet High School, was created that merged two positions: the high school principal and director of the Science and Technology High School of Southeastern Connecticut.

In addition to his work in the school district, Thompson is listed online as a consultant with Corwin, a Sage Publishing Company, which provides professional learning products, offers print books and ebooks, digital products and on-site consulting services.

In March, Thompson was scheduled to lead a workshop at LEARN’s headquarters in Old Lyme, for a $180 fee, to discuss teacher credibility and “The IT Factor: The Power of Teacher Credibility and Why Students Believe in Some Teachers and Not Others,” according to an online notice.