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City's Chief Academic Officer to Resign

Penny MacCormack Has Been Key Player in Hartford's School Reform Effort

By Vanessa de la Torre

September 08, 2011

HARTFORD - - Penny MacCormack, the school system's chief academic officer and a major figure in the city's efforts at school reform, is resigning.

Her departure is effective mid-October and comes early in Superintendent Christina Kishimoto's tenure. A copy of the resignation letter was not available Thursday and MacCormack did not respond t messages for comment.

In a statement, Kishimoto called MacCormack "a key contributor to the reform work in Hartford."

"While I do not wish to lose internal capacity, I am very proud that the Hartford public schools reform work is contributing to the education reform agenda statewide and nationally," Kishimoto said. "We wish her great success."

Before becoming chief academic officer in 2008, MacCormack was Hartford's assistant superintendent for secondary education under schools chief Steven Adamowski. Her duties include overseeing the arts, technology, services for English Language Learners and the school system's instructional budgets. She also has led the development of the city schools' strategic operating plan and standards-based curriculum.

Early this year, MacCormack was one of eight in the country picked from 760 applicants to take part in the 10-month Broad Superintendents Adademy, a national program that trains high-level executives and educators to be urban school superintendents.

The academy, founded by philanthropist Eli Broad, is expected to continue through November. Training sessions are held on weekends; graduates are then placed in urban districts.

Schools spokesman David Medina said Thursday he didn't know MacCormack's plans, but said there will be a search to find a replacement.

Milly Arciniegas, president of the Hartford Parent Organization Council, said MacCormack listened to parents and "we're going to miss her. We really are."

Staff writer Steven Good contributed to this story.