Stamford Public Schools Fills Two Key Positions

Stamford Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Winnie Hamilton and the Stamford Board of Education have announced the appointment of two administrators, according to a release from the school district.

The appointments, announced at the July 30, 2013, board meeting are for an assistant principal at Stamford High School, and an Interim Principal at the Academy of Information Technology & Engineering (AITE). 

Claudia Berlage will become assistant principal at Stamford High School replacing Ray Manka, who was recently transferred to Westhill High School to replace Jason Martin, Principal of Rippowam Middle School. Berlage is currently Mathematics Department Head, a position she has held since January. For the past year, Berlage has also served as an adjunct professor at the University of Bridgeport.

Prior to these positions Berlage has worked in the Bridgeport Public Schools as a Mathematics teacher and Department Head; as a substitute teacher in the Stamford Public Schools and as a High School teacher of Business courses in Switzerland.

Berlage holds masters’ degrees in Business Administration (magna cum laude) and in Teaching from the University of Zurich. She is currently a Doctoral Candidate at the University of Bridgeport, with expected completion in 2015.

Maria C. (Tina) Rivera will become Interim Principal at (AITE), replacing Paul Gross who retired at the end of the 2012-13 school year. 

Rivera is currently Assistant Principal at AITE, a position she has held since 2004. Rivera also served as an Administrative Intern in Stamford from 2003-04. She has held teaching positions in English/Language Arts, Physical Education and Health.

Rivera holds a Master of Arts degree in Educational Leadership, a Master of Science degree in Exercise Science and a Bachelor of Arts degree in English, all from Southern Connecticut State University in New Haven. She also holds several professional certifications.

Earlier this month, Brendan Fox was appointed principal at Turn of River Middle School and Angela Asaro was made assistant principal at Stillmeadow Elementary School.