Schools

Portia Bonner Named New Superintendent Of East Haven Schools

The former superintendent of schools in New Bedford, Mass. will start on Aug. 5.

Tuesday night, the East Haven Board of Education (BOE) unanimously voted to name Portia Bonner as the new superintendent of the East Haven School District.

Bonner will replace Anthony Serio, who is retiring. Serio served as superintendent for about seven years, with about 38 years in the East Haven Public Schools system.

Patch spoke with BOE member Jim Farrell, who said it was a true, unanimous vote. Even with one member of the nine-member board unable to make the vote, that member had expressed their approval of the decision to hire Bonner. 

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"She's got what we need for East Haven," said Farrell. "She is dedicated to the education of children and has a wealth of experience."

Farrell said candidates for the position were whittled down to the top four. Bonner, who resides in Waterbury, was head and shoulders above the others "from the start," said Farrell.

Find out what's happening in East Havenwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Her contract for employment is for three years, he noted.

She previously worked as the assistant superintendent in Hamden and as the superintendent of schools in New Bedford, Mass., according to the New Haven Register.

“The moment Dr. Bonner entered the room just a couple of weeks ago for her initial interview we were all impressed initially by her poise, demeanor and the way she carried herself,” Vice Chairman Ronald DeNuzzo said at Tuesday's Board of Education meeting, according to the newspaper. “Once she spoke and expressed her knowledge and love of education as well as her personality I think it was clear to us that we just found a gem.”

To read more about the hiring, click here. 


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