Education Board Names Two New Principals

The education board has approved the hiring of two new principals for Lawrence and Wesley elementary schools, which have been run by interim principals since August.

“The Middletown Public Schools is very pleased to announce Melissa Barbuto as the new principal of The Lawrence Elementary School and Thomas Cannata as the new principal of Wesley Elementary School,” said Dr. Gene Nocera, Board of Education chairman in a press release.

The dates each principal will begin work is being determined by their current school districts.

Renata Lantos, who returned to work after retiring as Bielefield Elementary School principal in June 2011. Lantos took over when Enza Macri was named assistant superintendent of schools in August.

Cannata will take over for Interim Principal Sylvia Webb, retired principal of Spencer elementary, who has run Wesley School since Joseph A. Cassella became principal of Woodrow Wilson Middle School Aug. 1.

Both candidates come highly recommended by their sending districts and from the Middletown Principal Search Committee, Nocera says.

Barbuto has been the assistant principal of Hamden High School since 2010.  Before that, she taught kindergarten, and grades one and four from 2002 to 2010.

Cannata has served as Plainville Schools’ Math and Science Instructional Leader since 2009. Before that, he was head teacher and grade five teacher at Wheeler Elementary School from 2000-2009.