Ziogas Leaves Manchester High a Far Different Place Than When He Arrived

When arrived at in February of 2011, he was by all intents and purposes walking into a very unenviable situation. When he walks out the door for the last time on Friday, he will leave behind a school that, by almost all accounts, is markedly different for the better. 

But the ever humble Ziogas - a veteran educator and administrator who spent 40 years with the Plainville School District working as a teacher, athletic director and principal before his retirement - credits the transformation almost entirely to Manchester High's staff and students. 

"I think that the staff has more confidence in the administration," Ziogas said when asked for his opinions on changes at Manchester High since he took over as interim principal last winter. "They're working together as a team to make Manchester High School as good as it can possibly be, and it's a tremendous school. There are so many things that they offer here for kids that a lot of schools in the state of Connecticut do not." 

When asked what he would miss most about his time at Manchester High, Ziogas said that it would most likely be the school's staff and students. 

"I really like the kids here," Ziogas said. "The kids are really good kids. They're really invested in their education. They're involved in so many different facets of their education, so I'm going to miss the kids. And I'm going to miss the staff. They have a very good staff here. They do things for kids that isn't done in other schools in the state." 

Ziogas was hired on Feb. 7, 2011 by former Superintendent Kathleen Ouellette to replace Kevin O'Donnell, who was before being formally removed from the principal position. At the time, Manchester High was in the midst of controversy after a in December of 2010 that resulted in the arrest of almost 20 students. 

Ziogas said he had some trepidation accepting the job at first, precisely because of that incident and what he had heard about it in the media, but it was his discussions with Ouellette that ultimately sold him on the idea of briefly coming out of retirement again (after retiring from the Plainville school district in June of 2010, he served as interim Athletic Director at South Windsor High School for a short period of time). 

"To be very honest with you, I was a little apprehensive, because I had a good career in Plainville," Ziogas said. "I didn't want to get into a situation that I thought might not be resolvable, but the longer I spoke with (Ouellette) and the staff here, the more I felt confident." 

And it might have been that confidence, or his desire to keep the school and its staff and students progressing, that led Ziogas to stay on in the role far longer than he ever antiquated. Ziogas said he initially thought a new principal would be in place before the end of the 2010-11 school year, but when , that complicated the search for a new principal at Manchester High.

Ziogas agreed to stay through November of 2011, well enough into the new school year to ease the superintendent transition, and when Richard Kisiel was appointed interim superintend in late October, Ziogas again agreed to extend his stay until a permanent replacement could be found. 

"I was very grateful that he said to me that he was willing to say," said Kisiel. "He told me something very important, something that I think is very characteristic of the man. He told me that he's become 'very fond of this school.' Those words were important for me to hear, and are a testament to his commitment."

Matthew A. Geary, the current principal at Watertown High School, will become the permanent principal of Manchester High School on Monday, April 23. 

Board of Education Chairman Chris Pattacini also echoed Kisiel's praise and respect for Ziogas. 

"Throughout his tenure, Mr. Ziogas drove positive change in school climate. I heard from parents, staff and students alike, who without exception, spoke highly of his leadership style and commitment. He provided a spark of leadership that brought out the best in both staff and students," Pattacini said by email Thursday. "Not only did he help improve the atmosphere and help instill a sense of pride at Manchester High School, he allowed us to take the time necessary to find the next principal for Manchester High School and for that we're all thankful."

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