Asst. Superintendent for Special Services Andrea Leonardi to Retire

Late Friday afternoon, Feb. 7, Wilton Public Schools announced that Assistant Superintendent for Special Services Andrea Leonardi has decided to retire after nearly 40 years as a special educator in Connecticut. Leonardi’s retirement will be effective effective June 30, 2025.

According to the press release announcing her retirement, Leonardi began her work in Wilton nearly eight years ago. Since then her goal was to “continue to build a firm foundation to foster lives of independence, choice, and dignity for students with disabilities.”

In the release, Wilton Public Schools Director of Human Resources Maria Coleman wrote that “those who have worked with Ms. Leonardi or within programs she has helped develop recognize the profound impact of this goal and her vision on the Wilton Public Schools.”

Under Leonardi’s leadership, teams of educators have expanded collaborative center programs serving students in Pre-K through age 22; new programs like Genesis (grades 7-12) and Community Steps (ages 18-22) have been developed to meet needs previously served through out-of-district programs; and the district has established more inclusive athletic offerings through Wilton Unified Sports.

In the release, Coleman wrote that during Leonardi’s tenure, the district has “continued to be a model for special services programming, drawing interest from neighboring school districts for collaboration and further development.”

Leonardi credits the success of the special services department to what she said was the “remarkable group of educators in Wilton,” highlighting “the effort and commitment they show each and every day to each and every student.”

Prior to her work in Wilton, Leonardi served as the director of special services in Fairfield for 24 years. Earlier in her career she served as a coordinator of preschool and elementary services and taught special education at the preschool, elementary, and middle school levels.

“Andrea has made a tremendous impact on our district over the past eight years. While we will be very sorry to see her go, her legacy will live on in the programs she helped imagine and shape during her tenure,” Superintendent Dr. Kevin Smith said. 

Coleman said that the vacancy for Leonardi’s position will be posted next week, “and the work of finding Wilton’s next transformative leader will begin.”