This story was compiled from a press release from the Wilton Public Schools.
Abigail Cass, a special education teacher and department leader at Cider Mill School, has been named as an assistant principal at Miller-Driscoll Elementary School. Cass replaces Lauren Bird, who recently accepted a full-time administrative position in Greenwich.
According to Human Resources Director Maria Coleman, Cass was hired at a part-time, .6 FTE level. She will be on-site three days per week and joins M-D’s current full-time assistant principals, Bernadette Hess and Janean Carley, as well as M-D Principal Kathy Coon.
Cass has been a special education teacher at Cider Mill School for the past nine years, working with children with a wide range of learning profiles throughout her tenure. In addition to her work as a case manager, Cass has helped lead the special services department at Cider Mill for the past seven years, developing processes to support effective case management, improved programming for students, and enhanced communication between home and school.
Beyond her work at the building level, Cass has served on several Wilton Public Schools (WPS) district committees, including the English/language arts curriculum review, the Portrait of the Graduate, long-range planning, and social-emotional learning, among others.
Coleman said in a press release that in each of these efforts, “Cass has demonstrated a commitment to working collaboratively with staff to support the growth of all students. Her knowledge of the district and her expertise in working with staff to support complex learners helped her emerge as the successful candidate for this important position.”
Cass earned her bachelor’s degree in special education, master’s degree in educational psychology, and sixth-year certificate in school leadership, all from the University of Connecticut.
Coleman said Cass was selected through a competitive hiring process, emerging from a highly-qualified pool of 34 candidates, including some experienced administrators. After a multi-round interview process that included broad-based committees at the school and central office levels, Cass “impressed the committees with her deep understanding of the district’s culture and mission, her insight into the unique needs of learners, her proven record of success, and her collaborative work style.”
“Abby is a fabulous educator who will serve the Miller-Driscoll community very well in her new role,” WPS Superintendent Kevin Smith said.
Cass, who starts her role in August, is looking forward to transitioning to Miller-Driscoll’s PreK-2 program and bringing with her the experience of working with diverse learners in the intermediate elementary years.
“I am thrilled to begin a new chapter at Miller-Driscoll School. My time at Cider Mill has been incredibly rewarding, and I am excited to continue my journey with Wilton Public Schools and the supportive Wilton community in this new role. I look forward to supporting our youngest learners as they start their educational journeys, working alongside the dedicated and talented staff at Miller-Driscoll School,” she said.