May, 24, 2021
Greetings to the Plainfield Public School Community,
I am delighted to be a part of the Plainfield Schools community and I look forward to working this year with our talented and caring faculty. Eastern Connecticut is a special place for me. Working as a school administrator in Putnam and Killingly, I have experience firsthand the close connections that generations of families in our community have to the schools.
I look forward to meeting staff and community members over the coming months. I have already had the pleasure of meeting many Plainfield educators through regional work and professional development. I have been impressed by both the professionalism of these individuals, and the genuine compassion the community exhibits towards the students of Plainfield.
I understand how difficult this past year has been for families. As a parent of two school-aged children, I have watched the ways in which my children have needed to adapt to new learning environments and ever-changing conditions for interactions with peers. Watching my children, I understand that supporting the social and emotional wellbeing of our students is paramount, as we support their academic growth. I also understand the challenge parents have faced balancing work while meeting the needs of their children.
During this challenging time, I am committed to providing leadership which focuses on connections which support relationships, consistent practice which build confidence, transparent decision-making processes which provide certainty, and practices which ensure access.
In the next week, I will be sharing my entry plan with the Plainfield community. This entry plan will outline my initial steps to build transparent relationships with families, community members and educators in Plainfield so that we can collectively ensure all students enjoy high quality learning experiences.
I am excited to begin on July 1st, and to visit with students and staff in our summer programs. As I do, I intend to honor all safety protocols currently in place, to ensure our community members remain safe. Over the next few months, please know that my door is always open, should you wish to share ideas or suggestions with me.
These are challenging and unprecedented times, but I remain inspired by the prospect of the work before us, and I look forward to engaging in the work with our community. As a former teacher, I look forward seeing students and staff in the classroom and to a time soon when I can meet all our students, parents, and staff in person.
In Partnership,
Paul M. Brenton