Print

Former Candidate For Hartford Superintendent's Job To Join CREC

Timothy Sullivan Jr. To Become Assistant Superintendent Of Operations

By VANESSA DE LA TORRE

June 27, 2012

HARTFORD —— A respected city principal and one-time candidate for the superintendent's job is leaving the school system for a high-ranking post with the Capitol Region Education Council.

Timothy Sullivan Jr. will be CREC's assistant superintendent of operations, overseeing areas such as student recruitment, contract negotiations and human resources starting next week, agency officials said Wednesday.

"My 23 years in the Hartford Public Schools has given me the opportunity to work with many talented teachers, students and parents and prepared me well to take this new step in my career," Sullivan said in a statement. "I will have the opportunity to continue my work on behalf of Hartford's children with a dynamic organization."

Hartford Superintendent Christina Kishimoto informed school board members of Sullivan's departure in an email Tuesday. The school system issued a brief statement Wednesday wishing Sullivan "all the best in his new role."

Sullivan, 47, a city native and longtime educator, has made no secret that he would eventually like to serve as Hartford's superintendent. As Classical Magnet School's principal, he competed against his boss for the top job last year, saying win or lose, "I'm 100 percent committed to staying in Hartford."

Kishimoto was assistant superintendent of secondary schools and Sullivan was the only other candidate who applied.

Sullivan's work life changed abruptly in February. In an administrative shakeup that upset Classical parents and staffers, Kishimoto transferred Sullivan to the Burns Latino Studies Academy to serve as interim principal of one of the city's lowest-performing schools.

Kishimoto called Sullivan an experienced leader who could shepherd Burns through the remaining months of the school year after the former principal was dismissed. At the time, Sullivan said he welcomed the challenge.

Monica Brase, who has taught science at Classical, was appointed the new Burns principal Monday. Sullivan has been assisting Brase with the transition this week and in a few days was supposed to begin work as Hartford's portfolio director, a central office position with a $135,000 salary.

Sullivan won't need to travel far for his new job: CREC's Charter Oak Avenue headquarters is only a mile away from the Harford school offices on Main Street. Sullivan's CREC salary was not immediately released.