By Jason Scheer
Dr. Robert Britto, currently the assistant superintendent of schools in Bridgeport, Conn., was named the successor to Dr. Kathy Weiss.
An educator for 37 years, Britto worked in his hometown of Providence, R.I., before moving to the 9,000-student Bridgeport district. In Providence he was an elementary-school and middle-school teacher, assistant principal, principal of an elementary school, director and administrator of Advanced Academic Services and the Magnet School Assistance Program.
Britto has an extensive and impressive academic resume as well. He earned a degree in secondary education and modern languages from Providence College and a master's in Spanish literature and Hispanic studies from Middlebury College. Finally, he brings to Baldwin a master's in education and a doctoral degree from Harvard in administration, planning and social policy.
Britto said that he was drawn to Baldwin's record of success. "[Baldwin] is certainly a district that has achieved a clear balance of providing students with excellence in academic and non-academic areas such as fine arts and athletics," he said.
He acknowledged that there was room for development, identifying test scores in the middle school as an example of an area needing improvement.
Britto said he would bring a collaborative leadership style to the district, and would work in conjunction with teachers and other members of the administration to improve teaching and learning. He also said he would collaborate with members of the Baldwin community and planned to conduct a series of focus groups in order "to learn from the community what they see as their strengths and areas that need to be addressed."
Britto said he would be visible in the community, and would reach out to "stakeholders" in Baldwin students' education, an area in which residents have felt a need for improvement. "I envision myself, with others, going out to the community and explaining what we're doing, how we're doing it and how the board and I are making good use of public resources to improve education," he said.
School Board President James Scannell introduced Britto at the meeting. Scannell said that Britto possesses all of the attributes identified by the community as necessary qualities for a superintendent. Scannell cited Britto's strong points as successful leadership in a diverse community, a strong record of institutional leadership resulting in improved student achievements, the ability to communicate and the willingness to be an integral part of the school district and the Baldwin community.
Comments about this story? JScheer@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 282.
