Thomas Danehy
West Hartford,CT
Summary
A seasoned leader in educational management, I spearheaded dynamic growth at ACES, enhancing services and expanding school programs. With a talent for strategic planning and stakeholder relations, I excel in fostering community engagement and driving innovation. My expertise in financial management and team leadership has consistently delivered exceptional outcomes.
Overview
30
30
years of professional experience
Work History
Executive Director
ACES
New Haven, CT
07.2014 - Current
- Lead Area Cooperative Education Services (ACES), one of Connecticut's six regional educational service centers, as executive director and superintendent of schools. ACES is a fee-for-service, not-for-profit organization with an annual budget of $118M and 1100 employees that serves New Haven County's 25 school districts. ACES enrolls 2,500 students in its various schools for students with special needs, magnet schools, and collaborative programs. ACES also provides a milieu of educational services, running the gamut from OT/PT services to speech and language services, transportation, and behavioral services, to back office administrative support services. ACES employs 35 administrators, 235 certified teachers, and many licensed professionals who carry out the work of our challenged students. Over the past decade our agency has grown dynamically in scope and size of schools and services offered, as evidenced by the number of new schools and programs that have opened to meet current needs. We have also culled services that local districts no longer need being mindful of appropriate use of fiscal and human resources.
- Drove revenue by cultivating successful client relations.
- Recruited, trained, mentored, evaluated, coached, and managed staff members to ensure success in achieving their goals.
- Collaborated with external vendors to provide cost-effective solutions for services such as IT support or human resources management.
Superintendent of Schools
Winchester Board of Education
Winsted, CT
07.2011 - 06.2014
- Crafted and filed a 10-4b complaint to the Commissioner of Education over Winsted's violation of public policy in underfunding its schools to the point of near insolvency.
- Advised Winchester Board of Education on strategic planning initiatives aimed at improving student outcomes.
- Supervised certified and non-certified district personnel to carry out all functions of a school district from teaching and learning to issues of health and safety including indoor air quality.
- Recommended improvement in work methods and processes through professional development for all staff members.
- massaged the tenuous relationship between the local school board and the quasi-public Gilbert School.
Executive Director of Human Capital Development
Stamford Public Schools
Stamford, CT
07.2010 - 06.2011
- Hired, trained, and mentored staff members to maximize productivity.
- Oversaw day-to-day administrative tasks related to personnel files or payroll processing.
High School Principal
CREC
Manchester, CT
07.2005 - 06.2010
- Led collaborative work projects between Manchester Community College professors, CREC, and Great Path Academy high school teachers and students at Connecticut's first middle college high school on the campus of Manchester Community College.
- Grew enrollment from 86 students to 310 students to coincide with the school construction project that ensued on the campus of Manchester Community College
- Participated in professional development opportunities to stay abreast of best practices in educational leadership.
- Developed platform for instructional practices design through data-driven decision-making.
- Observed teaching methods and examined learning materials to determine areas needing improvement.
Director of Human Resources
East Hartford Public Schools
East Hartford, CT
11.2002 - 06.2005
- Organized onboarding processes for new hires, including orientation sessions and paperwork completion.
- Assisted in the preparation of annual budgets related to staffing needs.
- Attended conferences, workshops and special events to recruit qualified candidates for company.
Middle School Principal
Portland Public Schools
Portland, CT
07.1999 - 06.2002
- Planned and led professional development activities for teachers, administrators and support staff.
- Implemented strategies designed to increase parent involvement in their children's education.
- Facilitated the development of curriculum aligned with state standards.
School Principal and Assistant Principal
Hartford Public Schools
Hartford, CT
11.1994 - 06.1999
- Served as Principal of West Middle School, a large, urban, pk-6 elementary school in Hartford
- Served as assistant principal of Weaver High School developing school's master schedule and evaluating special education and New Arrivals program
- Presented resources and opportunities to teaching staff for further professional development and curriculum training courses.
- Developed instructional methods and content for educational or student activity programs.
- Determined allocations of funds for classroom supplies and materials, authorizing purchases.
Education
Ed.D. - Doctor of Educational Leadership
University of Hartford
West Hartford, CT05-1992
Sixth Year - Educational Leadership
Fordham University
New York, NY05-1992
J.D. - Law
Quinnipiac University School of Law
Hamden, CT05-1990
Master of Science - Reading
Southern Connecticut State University
New Haven, CT05-1988
Master of Arts - Communications
Fairfield University
Fairfield, CT01-1986
Bachelor of Science - Marketing
Fairfield University
Fairfield, CT05-1984
Skills
- Growth management
- Innovation and creativity
- Board relations
- Marketing
- Client services
- Talent management and staffing
- Strategic planning
- Project management
- Government relations
- Public speaking
- Stakeholder relations
- Data interpretation
- Performance feedback
- Education
- Focus group facilitation
- Crisis management
- Media relations
- Financial management
- Business development
- Training methods
- Program monitoring
- Leadership development
- Staff management
- Program leadership
- Negotiation
- Business planning
- Policy formulation
- Coaching and counseling
- Contract management
- Human resources
- Community engagement
- Relationship building
- Communications strategy
- Grant writing
- Team leadership, training, and development
Timeline
Executive Director
ACES
07.2014 - Current
Superintendent of Schools
Winchester Board of Education
07.2011 - 06.2014
Executive Director of Human Capital Development
Stamford Public Schools
07.2010 - 06.2011
High School Principal
CREC
07.2005 - 06.2010
Director of Human Resources
East Hartford Public Schools
11.2002 - 06.2005
Middle School Principal
Portland Public Schools
07.1999 - 06.2002
School Principal and Assistant Principal
Hartford Public Schools
11.1994 - 06.1999
Ed.D. - Doctor of Educational Leadership
University of Hartford
Sixth Year - Educational Leadership
Fordham University
J.D. - Law
Quinnipiac University School of Law
Master of Science - Reading
Southern Connecticut State University
Master of Arts - Communications
Fairfield University
Bachelor of Science - Marketing
Fairfield University
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