GPS Appoints Interim Chief Pupil Personnel Services Officer

Via Greenwich Public Schools

GREENWICH, CT— According to a news release, Greenwich Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Toni Jones has appointed Dr. Stacey Heiligenthaler as the Interim Chief Pupil Personnel Services Officer, effective July 1.

Heiligenthaler will be responsible for leading Special Education Administration across the District, and other related services for the District’s students. She will also play a key role in leading the action from the Special Education Review.

Heiligenthaler takes on this role following the announcement of current Chief PPS Officer Mary Forde’s resignation.

"We are very excited to welcome Dr. Heiligenthaler to our District. She is bringing to GPS a deep knowledge and understanding of Special Education and services for students, as well as a commitment to strong partnership with staff, parents and the community. I have been incredibly impressed by her ability to deliver solutions and execute on planning following Special Education Reviews at two of her previous districts in CT, both Norwalk and Darien Public Schools," said Jones in the news release.

"Stacey played an instrumental role in executing on action plans, including: budget stabilization, reducing outplacements, utilizing funding to create programming, including launching a literacy program, improving assistive technology, and much more. I’m confident she will be a great leader in executing on the GPS Action Plan using the information, data and insights from the upcoming Special Education Review."

Currently, Heiligenthaler serves as the Director of Pupil Personnel Services for Norwalk Public Schools, responsible for supervision of Special Education Administrators and Department support staff; implementation and oversight of Department budget; coordination of all professional development; and oversight of the hiring process, in addition to numerous other responsibilities.

Prior to this role, she has served in several other leadership roles for Norwalk Public Schools, including: Assistant Director of Specialized Learning and Student Services; and Special Education and Student Services Administrator.

Heiligenthaler also served as Special Education and Student Services Facilitator for Darien Public Schools, where she provided support to teachers and administrators in implementing district policies, procedures and practices; she facilitated PPT meetings, reviewed IEP documentation, and consulted with general education and special education faculty on all matters regarding student support.

Before joining the CT educational community, Heiligenthaler spent significant time on the West Coast, taking on numerous roles for the ABC Unified, Anaheim Union, Pasadena Unified, San Marino Unified and Santa Barbara School Districts. She held roles in both Special Education leadership as well as direct classroom teaching, including as an Elementary Classroom Teacher for comprehensive special education students.

"I am honored to have an opportunity to work under the leadership of Dr. Toni Jones as Interim Chief Pupil Personnel Services. I am looking forward to working collaboratively with the students, staff, parents and community members of Greenwich to ensure quality special education programming for students with disabilities," Heiligenthaler said in the news release. "I am eager to begin the work identified in the Special Education Review and look forward to the great work that our collective partnerships will produce."

Heiligenthaler holds a bachelor's degree in Intensive Special Needs and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Boston University; a Masters Degree in Human Development with an Emphasis in Elementary Education with Crosscultural Language and Academic Development; a Masters Degree in Legal Studies with High Honors from Santa Barbara College of Law; and a Ph.D. in Organizational Systems from Saybrook University.

Heiligenthaler also completed graduate coursework in Finance, Supervision and Instructional Leadership, Data-Driven Decisions for School Improvement, and Curriculum from Grand Canyon University.