Mansfield Board of Education names Morell as next superintendent
MANSFIELD — At the latest Board of Education meeting, members voted to select Candace Morell as the next Mansfield Public Schools superintendent.
Morell, who currently serves as the district's Director of Teaching and Learning, will succeed Peter Dart. Her first day will be on July 1, upon his retirement.
'Candace's leadership and commitment to our district is exemplary,' said Kathy Ward, chairman of the Mansfield Board of Education which served as the Search Committee. 'As a Board of Education, we have seen the progress and innovation that Candace has brought to our district with her student-centered approach to teaching and learning. She has earned the respect of the leadership team and families.'
Ward added the board believes Morell is the right candidate to move the district forward with its vision for excellence and dedication to the Core Beliefs.
Morell started her professional journey in Mansfield in 1999 as a Reading and Science teacher at Mansfield Middle School.
With her passion for science education, Morell collaborated with colleagues to develop engaging authentic learning experiences for all students that included science studies on the school campus as well as overnight excursions to Nature's Classroom and the Worcester Ecotarium. Morell believes in the importance of relevant real-world experiences for all students.
During her role as teacher and administrator, she has facilitated and supported many afterschool and extended-year clubs and activities that have allowed students to explore new interests and develop important skills such as the ability to collaborate and communicate effectively with others and persevere when faced with challenges.
In 2005, Morell moved from the classroom to the role of assistant principal at Mansfield Middle School.
The Connecticut Association of Schools named her as Assistant Principal of the Year in 2009. She was also recognized as a National Educational Leadership Policy Fellow.
In 2014, Morell was selected as principal at Mansfield Middle School where she implemented innovative approaches to teaching and learning that improved student engagement and achievement levels.
With Morell's leadership, The U.S. News & World Report recently ranked Mansfield Middle School as 20th among 557 Connecticut middle schools.
The district established the administrative position of Director of Teaching and Learning in 2022, and Morell became a key member of Superintendent Dart's leadership team.
In this new role, Morell spearheaded programs formalizing the district's commitment to Growing Educators.
Collaborating with the Teacher Leader Team, she guided the district's focus on improving the elementary progress report for a better family understanding of student mastery and progress and established a structure for curriculum development and alignment from Pre-K to Grade 8.
Morell earned her Bachelor's and Master's of Science degrees as well as her Educational Leadership (UCAPP) from the University of Connecticut, and her Superintendent Certification from Central Connecticut State University.
'I am continually impressed with Candace's ability to eloquently frame complex ideas in provocative, clear ways that support and give voice to our community and staff,' Dart said. 'Through her skilled communications, she affects change in authentic meaningful ways. Candace possesses the collective knowledge of history and best practices while embracing our current focus and sense of urgency.'
Dart added that throughout Morell's 26-year tenure as an educator, assistant principal, principal and director of teaching and learning in the district, she has led by example by putting her students at the center of her work.
Mansfield's search process included input from the community, staff members, government leaders, students and families through an online survey and virtual focus groups throughout the last few months.
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