BOE Appoints New Flanders Principal, Karen Smith Academy Director
Jason Cicero was appointed the new principal of Flanders Elementary School by the Board of Education at its August 13 meeting.
Cicero, who was most recently the assistant principal at Chapel Street Elementary School in Stratford, said he wants Flanders parents to feel that he is accessible to them.
“I plan on attending everything. I'll be very visible and very accessible to folks as well. I want to hear concerns. I want to hear celebrations. I want to be able to be supportive of the community in that way, so they can look forward to being able to sit down and chat whenever we can find the time,” said Cicero.
Cicero previously was an Interim Principal in Stratford Public Schools, and a teacher within the Milford Public Schools system. He received his Bachelors and Masters degrees from Southern Connecticut State University, and lives in Meriden.
Cicero has already begun meeting teachers and school staff, and says he looks forward to building strong relationships in the Flanders community.
“It's a tight knit community, and I'm so excited to be able to support them. The bedrock of the work we do in education is relationships, and from the moment I set foot in the building and had a long conversation with the custodians and some of the tech people, all of those relationships are already starting. I'm looking forward to not only a fantastic year, but a fantastic career here in Southington,” said Cicero.
Shama Greene, a local parent, attended the meeting on Thursday and was supportive of the appointment of Cicero.
“I think that this new principal is going to be great for the community. It's only going to strengthen and make the community that is there stronger. I'm looking forward to seeing all the good things he's going to do for the school,” said Greene, who is herself an educator. “Flanders is a very special place with great teachers, great parents, great everything. I'm really hoping that this only enhances it, and makes it that much better for the community.”
New Karen Smith Academy Director
The Board also appointed former Southington High School football coach Mike Drury as the director of the Karen Smith Academy.
The Karen Smith Academy, located at 242 Main Street, provides an alternative learning environment to students with needs that cannot be met at Southington High School.
“[I’m] looking forward to improving and continuing to build the culture there, and help our students achieve the goals post-secondary wise and within high school, and help them overcome all the obstacles that may come forth,” said Drury.
Drury has served as the special education department leader at Southington High School since September of 2025. He received his Bachelors degree from Marist University in New York, and his Masters degree at Saint Joseph College in Indiana.
SHS Wall of Honor Inductees Announced
In addition, the Board announced the names of the next individuals who will be added to Southington High School’s alumni Wall of Honor.
Joe Della Porta, a member of the town Veterans Committee, Mark Ramsay, Executive Director of LEAF farms, author James Benn, Olympic skeleton racer Austin Florian, and Donald Dorman, a World War II airman whose remains were recently identified and laid to rest, will all be added to the wall.
