Cullen to lead Region 16 school board

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Region 16 Board of Education member Donna Cullen was chosen Aug. 3 by her fellow board members to be their next chair. ELIO GUGLIOTTI

BEACON FALLS — The Region 16 Board of Education chose board member Donna Cullen as its next chair.

“Donna will be a terrific board chair,” Superintendent of Schools James Agostine said. “It’s a great opportunity for her to assume a leadership role.”

Cullen will step into the chair seat vacated by former board Chair Lisa DeGoes, who resigned in July because her family moved to the Netherlands for her husband’s work. Cullen, who is principal at Maloney Magnet Elementary School in Waterbury and lives in Prospect, was unanimously selected by the board to be chair at its Aug. 3 meeting.

Following the meeting, Cullen said being nominated by her peers meant a lot.

“When someone says, ‘We know you’re going to do a good job, will you do it?’ That’s huge,” Cullen said.

Cullen has been on the board for three years. She was first appointed to the board as a fill-in to finish out a term in 2008 and was elected to the board in 2009. She is running for reelection in November. In December, even if Cullen’s reelected, the board’s chair seat will go to a member from Beacon Falls due to the board’s bylaws.

Cullen said DeGoes left some big shoes to fill, and she will approach her new responsibility in a conservative style while working to ensure Region 16 students receive the best possible education.

“I have to make sure I do it in a conservative manner,” Cullen said. “So, I’m balancing those two things.”