Parkhurst to Take Over as Wallingford Assistant Superintendent

Parkhurst, who comes to Wallingford after serving seven years as principal of Jerome Harrison Elementary School in North Branford, is replacing Ellen Cohn, who is leaving the school district for a job with the state Department of Education.

“I’m looking forward to establish that trusting professional relationship,” said Parkhurst about his new job. “I want the staff to see me as a support and that I’m there to help with issues and cheer on their successes. I plan to be visible and build that trust."

He recently accepted the job after three rounds of interviews of a 10-day period.

“It was a good opportunity on both parts to really know that this will be a good fit,” said Parkhurst. “I wanted to be in a progressive district under a forward-thinking superintendent who understands collaborating and motivating staff. I feel that way about Wallingford and Dr. Menzo. I’m ready to be a part of that.”

While Parkhurst is excited about the next step in his career, leaving his post at Jerome Harrison Elementary School is bittersweet, noting that he’ll miss the relationships he has built with the staff and the students.

“The staff is a unique group that comes together in good times and bad to support each other like a family,” said Parkhurst, who lives in Westbrook with his wife and daughter, who’s entering 5th-grade. “I’ll miss interacting with the students every day, but I will be spending a lot of time in the schools.”

Parkhurst said he will miss the incredible events that JHS has hosted over the years with the help of the staff and parents, including Fun Day, where students got to sink Parkhurst in a dunking booth and amazing Read Across America Day celebrations.

One of the things Parkhurst implemented at JHS that he’s most proud of is the “cutting edge integration and use of technology” in the classrooms. When he started, there were a few Smartboards in the school and now there is one in every classroom. The school also has 100 student-use iPads.