The Connecticut Association of Schools
Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference
Address: 30 Realty Drive, Cheshire, CT 06410
Phone: (203) 250-1111
Fax: (203) 250-1345
Administrative Staff
- Michael Savage
Executive Director
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 Executive
Director Michael H. Savage received a bachelor's degree in Mathematics
from Central Connecticut State University and earned his master's
degree and sixth-year from the University of Connecticut.
Mike began his career with CAS-CIAC in 1971 when, as a high school
principal, he served as a member of the CIAC Officials Committee.
He swiftly gained the respect and admiration of his colleagues and,
in 1975, he was appointed to the CIAC Board of Control and to the
CAS Board of Directors. An active and esteemed member of both boards,
his distinguished record of service earned him the position of Assistant
Executive Director in 1980. Eight years later, in 1988, Mike was
named Executive Director of CAS-CIAC.
Mike has worked tirelessly to expand both CAS-CIAC's range of services
and its scope of influence. During his tenure as executive director,
the Association has grown from a modest operation concerned mainly
with the governance of interscholastic athletics to a powerful organization
that is a recognized and respected force in Connecticut education.
Under Mike's direction, CAS-CIAC built and relocated to a new headquarters
with the facilities needed to expand and improve service to member
schools; membership in CAS-CIAC was extended to elementary schools,
a move that served to significantly broaden the scope of the association;
the CIAC Endowment Fund was created to ensure the future financial
security of the association; the Center For Early Adolescent Education
was established to provide professional development programs to
middle level teachers; the CIAC/Special Olympics Unified Sports
Program was created to extend athletic opportunities to students
with disabilities; the CIAC earned sanction from the State Department
of Education as an authorized Coaching Certification agency; a corporate
restructuring involving the Connecticut Association of Athletic
Directors and the Connecticut Association of Interscholastic Officials
brought Connecticut's athletic directors and sports officials under
the CAS-CIAC umbrella; and an historic 2000 merger with the Connecticut
Association of Elementary and Middle School Principals Association
created a unified organization with a single voice for K-12 education
in Connecticut.
- Earle Bidwell
Assistant Executive
Director for Middle Level Programs and Services
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 Earle
G. Bidwell, retired principal of Captain Nathan Hale Middle School
in Coventry and former president of CAS, serves on the Central Office
staff as Assistant Executive Director of Middle Level Education.
Earle has teaching and administrative experience at the elementary,
middle and high school levels, as well as extensive background in
professional development. He spent the better part of his professional
career in Regional School District #13, where he served as a teacher
at both Memorial and Snow Schools, as assistant principal at Coginchaug
High School and as principal at Strong Middle School. In 1992, he
became principal of Captain Nathan Hale Middle School in Coventry
where he served until his retirement.
Earle became active in the work of CAS in 1984 as a member of the
Middle Level Professional Studies Committee and he swiftly ascended
to important leadership positions within the association. He served
as chair of the Middle Level Board of Control and as treasurer of
the association before becoming CAS President in 1996. In 1994,
Earle was awarded a CAS Citation, the association's highest honor
and, in 1995, he was named CAS Middle Level Principal of the Year.
His distinguished career in education boasts a number of other honors
including selection as the CT representative on the Carnegie Foundation
National Curriculum Project and appointment to the Commissioner's
Task Force for Administrative Certification.
- Regina Birdsell
Assistant
Executive Director for Elementary Programs and Services
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 Regina
Birdsell, former principal of Academy School in Madison, joined
the central office staff in August of 2005 as a coordinator for
the University of Connecticut Administrator Preparation Program
(UCAPP). Regina, who retired from school administration in June
of 2004, was a loyal and active member of CAS and the former Elementary
and Middle School Principals Association of Connecticut (EMSPAC).
A key member of the transition committee following the CAS-EMSPAC
merger in 2000, Regina was one of a handful of individuals who was
responsible for the founding of the Connecticut Principals' Center.
A member of the board of directors of the Connecticut Association
of Elementary School Principals at a time of unprecedented growth,
she is also credited with reshaping the elementary division to meet
the diverse and changing needs of its expanded membership. Ever
sensitive to the professional needs of her colleagues, Regina helped
to design new programs in critical areas such as diversity, NEASC
evaluation standards, and instructional leadership.
Regina graduated from Sacred Heart University (Fairfield, CT) with
a degree in psychology and pursued her graduate studies at Southern
Connecticut State University where she earned a master's degree
in special education and a sixth-year certificate in educational
administration. She began her professional career in 1969 in Monroe,
CT, where she worked as a special education teacher, first at Monroe
Elementary School and later at Masuk High School. In 1973, Regina
relocated to Naugatuck, where she served as a special education
teacher at both the middle and high school levels before being appointed
to coordinator of learning disabilities for the district. After
five years in that position, Regina was named principal of Naugatuck's
Central Avenue School, a position she held for seven years. In 1989,
she assumed the principalship of Madison's Academy School, from
which she retired last June.
In addition to her UCAPP-related responsibilities, Regina also works
alongside Lou Pear as an assistant executive director
for elementary education. Together, Regina and Lou oversee the delivery
of CAS programs and services at the elementary level. Lou focused
his efforts on student-oriented activities while Regina works predominantly
in the area of professional development.
- Ken Bragg
Assistant Director of Unified Sports®
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 Ken Bragg has an extensive background in education and sports, having retired after 36 years as a physical educator in Hartford. Specializing in adapted physical education, Ken has been a Unified Sports coach since the time of the program's inception in 1993. A longtime Special Olympics Area Director, Ken proudly led several Team Connecticut squads to national competitions!
His background in Special Olympics and his experience, especially in the urban schools, make him an invaluable resource for the expanding Unified Sports program at CIAC. As an assistant director of Unified Sports, Ken is serving as both a tournament director and as an outreach person.
- Mike Buckley, Ph.D.
Associate Executive Director
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 Dr.
Michael Buckley, long-time principal of Avon High School, currently
serves as the director of the Connecticut Principals' Center. Mike
first joined the central office staff in 2001 as Assistant Executive
Director for High School Education.
Mike graduated from Bowdoin College (Maine) with a degree in History
and served four years as an officer in the United States Army before
assuming his first teaching job at Glastonbury High School in 1968.
In 1973, after serving two years as assistant principal at Glastonbury,
Mike became principal of Central Middle School in Middletown. In
1977, he was appointed principal of Coginchaug High School in Durham
where he worked for eight years before relocating to Massachusetts.
Mike returned to Connecticut in 1987 to become principal of Avon
High School. Mike earned a Master of Arts and a Diploma of Further
Study from Wesleyan University, and a Doctor of Philosophy from
the University of Connecticut.
As Director of the Connecticut Principals' Center, Mike manages
the day-to-day operations of the Center, which was established for
the specific purpose of meeting the professional needs of school
principals, assistant principals and aspiring administrators. Mike
also oversees the association's student activities division and
acts as liaison to the State Department of Education and the CT
State Legislature.
- Dennis Carrithers, Ph.D.
Assistant Executive Director and Director of the Connecticut Principals' Center
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 Dr.
Dennis Carrithers, former principal of Simsbury High School, joined
the Central Office staff in October of 2002 as Director of Special
Programs.
An active member of CAS-CIAC since 1980, Dennis was a respected,
influential, and energetic leader, having served as chair of the
Eligibility Committee, secretary of the CIAC Board of Control, and
member of the High School Board of Control and the Legislation Committee.
Dennis earned a bachelor of arts degree from Hamilton College, an
M.A.T. from Yale University and a Ph.D. from the University of Connecticut.
A 32-year veteran educator, Dennis began his distinguished career
in education in West Hartford, where he worked as an English teacher,
department chair, and assistant principal. He served as principal
at Simsbury H.S. from 1987 to 2002.
In 2004, Dennis was appointed to the position of Assistant Executive
Director of High School Education. He now serves as liaison to the
Connecticut Association of High School Principals Board of Directors,
the High School Professional Studies Committee, the High School
Program Committee, and the Assistant Principals Committee. As such,
he oversees the annual school secretary conference, the annual high
school conference, the assistant principals conference and the Governor's
Scholars program. Dennis is also involved in grant-writing and has
spearheaded the new NEASC accreditation assistance program, which
provides support and technical services to member schools undergoing
the accreditation process.
- Bob Deasy
Assistant Director of Unified Sports®
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 Robert Deasy joined the central office staff from the Farmington school district where he has served as the Unified Sports coordinator for five years, growing that program from just a middle school group to high school and elementary as well. Bob is also an instructor for the American Red Cross and served as an athletic trainer for 20 years.
He is president and CEO of PQ Associates, an international consulting firm. He previously worked at Pratt & Whitney as an education and training consultant and served as a member of the Greater Hartford Chamber of Commerce's Education Steering Committee. As an assistant director of Unified Sports, Bob's primary responsibility is outreach to new schools.
- Matthew Fischer
Director of Information Services
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 Matt
Fischer joined the Central Office staff full-time in July of 2003.
A former collegiate sports information director and Major League
Baseball media relations director, Matt directed the media efforts
for the San Francisco Giants for several years, including the 1989
season which ended with the earthquake-interrupted Bay Bridge World
Series.
Since 1995 Matt has served as president of e-fish solutions, inc.
(formerly Fishman Communications), a full service web site design
and programming firm. In that capacity he has designed and programmed
sites for private companies, professional sports teams and government
agencies. Also in that role he worked with the central office staff
on the development of the original CAS-CIAC website in 1997, and
has since programmed all of the site's enhancements including the
online eligibility and tournament forms center, the membership and
committee databases and the legislative bill tracking system. Matt,
a 2003 recipient of the CAS Appreciation Award for Excellence of
Service, serves as CAS-CIAC's Director of Information Services,
webmaster and network administrator.
- J. Robert Ford
Director of Development
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 J.
Robert Ford is the Director of Development for CAS-CIAC. Bob joined
the Central Office staff in 1992, after retiring from the principalship
of Ellington High School, Ellington, Connecticut. During his many
years as a high school principal, Bob volunteered untold hour s
to the association, serving on the CIAC Boys Basketball Committee,
the CIAC Eligibility Committee, the CAS Citation Committee, the
CAS Nominating Committee, and the CAS Finance Committee. Bob was
Secretary/Treasurer, Vice Chair, and later, Chairman of CIAC Board
of Control. He also served on the National Federation Basketball
Rules Committee from 1988-1992.
In his present position, Bob works to enhance the financial structure
of CAS-CIAC through corporate sponsorships, fundraising activities,
and financial or in-kind donations by individuals, corporations,
trusts and the like. Bob has worked diligently to develop a relationship
with Connecticut's corporate community to gain support for interscholastic
athletics and related activities. In addition to sponsoring an annual
CAS-CIAC Golf Tournament, he has succeeded in securing sponsors
for a number of CAS-CIAC sports tournaments, banquets and workshops.
Through his efforts, CAS-CIAC was able to secure the funds necessary
to expand its office facility to accommodate a new resource center
and additional activity rooms. Bob is responsible for executing
all contracts and agreements with all corporate sponsors, which
involves on-site supervision, coordination of activities, delivery
of materials, etc.
- Stephanie Ford
Director of Marketing
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 Stephanie Ford joined the central office staff in July 2008 as the director of marketing. Her position was created to expand the association's marketing activities and, in turn, generate resources to enhance and promote association programs and services. In addition to working to develop corporate partnerships, Stephanie serves as the association's media liaison and works to improve the association's image and name recognition within the educational community as well as among the general public. Stephanie is a graduate of Salve Regina University where she earned a degree in English/Communications. After graduation, Stephanie worked at John Blair Television in New York before settling in Connecticut. Once in Connecticut, Stephanie went to work for WTXX-TV in Waterbury as an account executive before being promoted to local sales manager there. Later, Stephanie signed on with WTIC-TV, the Fox affiliate, where she continued her sales career as part of a job share team so that she could spend more time with her growing family. In the five years prior to joining the central office staff, Stephanie worked closely with Director of Development Bob Ford to secure corporate sponsors for CAS-CIAC's many sports tournaments, banquets, and workshops.
- Paul Hoey
Associate Executive Director for CIAC
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 Paul
Hoey, long-time principal of Newington High School, joined the Central
Office staff in 2004 as associate executive director for the
CIAC. Paul acts as liaison to the CIAC Eligibility Committee and
the CIAC Eligibility Review Board. As such, he is responsible for
processing and monitoring all appeals of Eligibility Committee decisions.
He also serves as a consultant and recording secretary to the CIAC
Board of Control, and to general CIAC committees including the Season
Limitation, Eligibility Revision, Rules Modification, and By-Laws
Revision committees. Among other responsibilities, Paul oversees
the drafting and execution of game officials contracts; administers
the CIAC Cooperative Team Program; assists with the annual Scholar-Athlete
banquet; and coordinates CIAC citizenship and sportsmanship activities.
Paul graduated from Sacred Heart University in Fairfield with a
bachelor's degree in History. He began his career in education as
a History teacher at Granby Memorial Junior-Senior High School.
After twelve years as a teacher and assistant principal in Granby,
Paul became principal of East Granby Middle and High School. He
then served as principal of Rocky Hill High School for six years
before assuming the principalship of Newington High School, where
he worked until his retirement in 2004.
During his years as a high school principal Paul was an active and
influential member of CAS-CIAC. He served as chair of some of the
association's most important and challenging boards and committees,
including the CIAC Board of Control, the Financial Development Committee,
the Girls' Swimming Committee, and the Cooperative Team Committee.
He also served on the Gymnastics Committee, the Boys' Tennis Committee,
the Boys' Swimming Committee, the CAS Nominating Committee, the
High School Program Committee, the Student Activities Board of Control,
the High School of Control, and the CAS Board of Directors.
- Susan Kennedy
Assistant Executive Director
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 Susan Kennedy is assistant director of the executive coaching program, a joint initiative between CAS and the Connecticut State Department of Education. Susan is the former chief of the Bureau of School and District improvement at the State Department of Education. She was an education consultant with the state department for twenty-two years, the first twelve of which were spent in the Bureau of Special Education. In 1998, she transitioned to the Bureau of Research, Evaluation and Student Assessment to develop the alternate assessments required under the 1997 amendments to the IDEA. Prior to working for the state department, Susan was a full-time faculty member in the special education department at St. Joseph College and, prior to that, a regular and special education classroom teacher.
- Dr. Robert Lehr
CIAC Executive Staff Member
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 Dr. Robert Lehr, long-time Coordinator of Health, Physical Education and Athletics for the Southington Public Schools, brings a wealth of talent and experience to the association. He began his career as a teacher and multi-sport coach in high schools in Pennsylvania and Maryland. His early successes led to a position as dean of students at Penn State University and later as associate athletic director at Yale University.
A decorated athletic administrator, Bob garnered numerous awards during his tenure as an athletic director in Connecticut, including the Connecticut High School Coaches Association (CHSCA) Athletic Director of the Year Award; the National High School Athletic Coaches Association Athletic Director of the Year Award; and the NIAAA State Award of Merit. Bob's extensive background in both high school and college athletics provides a rich framework for his work as a CIAC executive staff member. Bob is overseeing six CIAC sports committees/tournaments and is assisting in the administration of the new CIAC program evaluation initiative. He is also responsible for implementing CIAC corporate sponsorship agreements.
- David Maloney
Assistant Executive Director
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 Dave Maloney is the director of the Connecticut Association of Student Activities. As such, he oversees all non-athletic student activities programs and initiatives including the work of the Connecticut Association of National Honor Societies, the Connecticut Association of Student Councils and the Connecticut Debate Society. He also serves as a UCAPP clinical supervisor.
The 1998 High School Assistant Principal of the Year, Dave joins the central office staff following a long and distinguished career in educational administration. In his nineteen years as assistant principal at Branford High School, Dave was the driving force behind a number of successful student activities programs, including the state and nationally recognized Student Assistance Program and the state-recognized Student Volunteer Community Service Program. A sports enthusiast, Dave was an active and dedicated member of the CIAC, serving on the CIAC Board of Control, the CIAC Girls' Basketball Committee and the CIAC Golf Committee. He was the girls' basketball tournament director for thirteen years. An accomplished coach, Dave was inducted into the Connecticut Women's Basketball Hall of Fame (2005) and the Branford Sports Hall of Fame (1997). He was also named CHSCA Girls' Basketball Coach of the Year in 1986.
- Karen Packtor
Assistant Executive Director for Publications and Communications
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 Karen
Packtor, assistant executive director for publications and communications,
joined the CAS-CIAC staff in 1992. Karen graduated from Princeton
University in 1990 with a degree in French Literature. While in
college, Karen volunteered as a tutor and counselor for underprivileged
and abused children. Eager to work in the service of children with
special needs, Karen was hired as the Director of the CIAC/Special
Olympics Unified Sports(TM) Program in 1992. Karen served as Director
of Unified Sports for two-and-a-half years, during which time she
succeeded in building a strong and viable interscholastic athletic
program for disabled students in Connecticut. She was appointed
to Assistant to the Executive Director in June of 1995 and Assistant
Executive Director in May of 1998. In addition to being editor of
the monthly BULLETIN, Karen is a consultant and recording secretary
to the CAS Board of Directors and is responsible for all CAS/CIAC
brochures and publications, the annual meeting and CEU management.
- Lou Pear
Director of Unified Sports®
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 Lou Pear had a long and distinguished professional career in Rocky Hill, having served as a physical education teacher at the elementary level, as a soccer coach at Rocky Hill High School, and as a building principal at each of the district's three elementary schools. During his 32-years as an educator, he garnered two "West Hill School Teacher of the Year" awards as well as the National Distinguished Principals Award.
Lou served as district director for the Elementary and Middle School Principals' Association of Connecticut (EMSPAC) and was instrumental in the merger of EMSPAC and CAS. Lou also served as chair of the Connecticut Association of Elementary School Principals Board of Directors and as state representative to the National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP). Lou is a graduate of Central Connecticut State University where he earned his bachelor, master and sixth-year degrees.
As director of Unified Sports™, Lou is responsible for the overall administration and operation of the CIAC/Special Olympics Unified Sports® Program. His responsibilities include: coordinating all Unified Sports® events/tournaments; preparing and administering the overall budget; working in the area of public relations to recruit new schools into the program; training all Unified Sports® coaches and volunteers; and providing leadership and direction to the volunteer committees that help administer the program.
- Beth Rasmussen
Young Athlete Program Coordinator
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 Berlin resident and parent of a Unified Sports® partner, Beth Rasmussen is the coordinator of the Young Athlete Program. A graduate of Boston College, Beth brings a broad range of professional experience to the position, having worked in sales at Connecticut Public Television (CPTV) and in advertising at American Cheerleading Magazine. She also organized trade shows for Chemical Week Magazine. Beth joined the Unified Sports® staff to make a difference in the lives of Connecticut's children and their families.
- Joe Tonelli
Director CIAC Officials Association
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 Joseph A. Tonelli, retired athletic director of Notre Dame High School in West Haven, serves on the Central Office staff as Director of the CIAC Officials' Association.
Joe is a 1962 graduate of Notre Dame High School and was a teacher, coach and athletic director at his alma mater for 39 years. Before becoming the school's athletic director, Joe was Notre Dame's basketball coach for 11 years. In addition, he served as the assistant baseball coach at the University of New Haven for 14 seasons. His coaching accomplishments earned him induction into the Connecticut High School Coaches Association Hall of Fame.
Joe was a 1966 graduate of the University of South Carolina where he captained the baseball team. He received his master's degree from Southern Connecticut State University and he was among the first of the nation's athletic directors to achieve the status of Certified Athletic Administrator by the NIAAA.
Joe is a past president and "founding father" of the Connecticut Association of Athletic Directors. He became active in the work of the CIAC in 1979 and served the association in the following capacities:
- CIAC Board of Control (CAAD Consultant)
- Season Limitations Committee
- CIAC Eligibility Review Committee
- Officials Coordinator for Baseball Tournament
- CIAC Representative to the National Federation Athletic Directors Advisory Committee
Joe also served as a member of the CIAC Officials Committee for 27 years and was a liaison to the football, basketball and swimming officials. In 2000, Joe received the prestigious CAS Citation, the association's highest honor.
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