The East Hartford Board of Education appointed Mr. Thomas Anderson, a graduate of East Hartford Public Schools, its new Superintendent of Schools at a special meeting on March 22, 2023. His role is effective July 1, 2023. Anderson has served most recently as Superintendent of Schools in New Bedford, MA (2018-2023; enrollment: 13,000 students) and Randolph, MA (2014-2018; enrollment: 3,100 students) public schools.
Mr. Anderson has spent many years in leadership roles in various states. Prior to moving to Massachusetts, he was Assistant/Instructional Superintendent of the 46,000 student District of Columbia Public Schools from 2011 to 2014. He also served as principal of schools in Montgomery County and Prince George’s County, Maryland. In addition, he spent one year as Executive Director and Founding Principal of the Larry Hawkins Charter School in Chicago.
East Hartford’s Board of Education Chair Tyron Harris said, “The East Hartford Board has taken the search for our new superintendent very seriously. We listened carefully to our stakeholders who participated in interviews, focus groups, and an online survey. We spread the net wide in our search for candidates and were grateful to have great, diverse pool of candidates to choose from. Mr. Anderson brings an enormous wealth of experience and a deep knowledge of and family ties in East Hartford. We are confident he is the right leader to take the helm from Nate Quesnel and that he will continue our tradition of pursuit of excellence for the students and families of East Hartford.”
Mr. Anderson said, “I am excited to be returning to the East Hartford Schools in my hometown, and where I started my teaching career 26 years ago. I have a clear understanding of the East Hartford Public Schools’ commitment to academic excellence with a lens on equity and supporting the whole student. I am dedicated to the mission of educating all students.”
The East Hartford Board was guided in its search by Mary Broderick, George Coleman, and Jack Reynolds of CABE Search Services. They gathered perspectives from many stakeholders before writing the Leadership Profile that guided the Board in its search for a new leader.