Our Schools
East Haddam Schools
Welcome to East Haddam Public Schools! Our district, located in Moodus, East Haddam, Connecticut, serves 1,000 kindergarten through 12th-grade students. We also offer a Smart Start preschool program that focuses on preparing young children for kindergarten.
Please take some time to get to know our schools and administrative staff. We offer a variety of programs and services to support our students and take great pride in developing lifelong learners to succeed in life after high school.
2024-2025 Board of Education Budget
The 2024–2025 budget passed at referendum. Thank you for supporting our schools!
For full details regarding the 2024–2025 board of education budget, please visit our Business Services page.
Messages from Our Board of Education Chair & Superintendent
June 17, 2024
Dear East Haddam Community,
Juneteenth, also known as Emancipation Day or Freedom Day, commemorates the emancipation of enslaved African Americans in the United States and serves as a vital reminder of the ongoing journey towards freedom, justice, and equality.
The Connecticut Association of Boards of Education Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee compiled a calendar of events to honor this significant day in our nation’s history. These events, shown below, include a celebration of African American culture and heritage and provide opportunities for reflection and education.
Highlights of Juneteenth events:
June 18: Westport: Screening of “Black Barbie” at Westport Library, featuring a discussion with Shonda Rhimes.
June 19: Wallingford: Evening event at Wallingford Public Library and St. Paul’s Church.
Rocky Hill: Celebration at Elm Ridge Park from 12:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.
June 20: Torrington: Commemoration at Trinity Episcopal Church at 11:00 a.m.
Bristol: Festivities at The Carousel Museum from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
June 21: Bloomfield: Screening of “Harriet” at Blue Hills Firehouse, 1021 Blue Hills Ave at 9:00 p.m.
June 22: Bloomfield: Parade and 5K starting at 11:00 a.m.
Greenwich: Educational activities hosted by Greenwich Historical Society.
June 23: Naugatuck: Celebration at St. Francis Field from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
June 23: Bloomfield: Concert featuring ‘The Lost Tribe Band’ at Blue Hills Firehouse, 1021 Blue Hills Ave from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
To further enrich an understanding of Juneteenth, explore the legacy of Ms. Opal Lee, an activist, who was instrumental in establishing Juneteenth as a nationally recognized holiday.
As we commemorate Juneteenth, let us reflect on the resilience and contributions of African Americans throughout history and reaffirm our commitment to foster a racially just society.
Warm Regards,
Teresa DeBrito
Teresa P. DeBrito, Ed.D.
Superintendent of School
June 13, 2024
Dear East Haddam Community,
As the chair of the East Haddam Board of Education and as the superintendent of schools, we write to you with urgency and determination following last night’s board of education meeting. This letter provides specific information regarding the recent blatant racially driven events that have been posted on social media and via news stations.
The knowledge of the situation was brought to the school two weeks ago. The police were called immediately. The date that cell phone communications were first shown to school administration was on Friday, May 31, 2024. The police and the school immediately began their investigations. The family met with the superintendent on Monday, June 3, 2024, and a letter was sent to the middle school families and staff, also on June 3, 2024. Please know that the board of education members and employees must follow state and federal laws which prohibit sharing specific details of these incidents and student records, discipline, or consequences.
This week, new footage was released to the public that was never shared with the district. This was communicated to the media and the NAACP. Regardless, no one turned a blind eye to the behaviors that were described last night. Racism is a cancer, and we are committed to removing it. It is important to clarify that there was misinformation regarding a confederate flag. No such flag ever existed at the school.
We are united in educating the community and ourselves to ensure that our actions lead to meaningful change. In taking immediate and proactive steps with students, we fortify the urgent response to the recent events. Today, a trained consultant, who was hired to conduct an independent investigation from the State Education Resource Center of Connecticut (SERC), began meeting with students and staff.
In the coming weeks we will invite you to join us in our community outreach efforts, including the Family & Youth Services and elected officials, as we come together to address racism. Together, we can create a future where every individual is treated with dignity and respect regardless of their race, ensuring healing.
Respectfully,
Patricia Stricker
Patricia Stricker, Board of Education Chair
East Haddam Public Schools
Teresa DeBrito
Dr. Teresa DeBrito, Superintendent of Schools
East Haddam Public Schools
A Message from Our Superintendent
June 3, 2024
Dear Parents/Guardians,
I am writing to all families at the middle school to share critical information about the inappropriate use of cellular phones among our students. While cell phones have become part of the fabric of our society, students are subject to school rules for conduct on school grounds and in many instances off school grounds as well. As a reminder, the District has policies in place that prevent cyberbullying, harassment, and inappropriate use of technology. Violation of these policies, on or off school grounds, may result in discipline, up to and including expulsion from school, as well as possible referral to law enforcement.
The administration has become aware of videos and chats that have been disseminated via student cell phones that contain inappropriate language including but not limited to race-biased language. The district will work tirelessly to address and eliminate these harmful actions.
We all want to trust our own children. However, these actions undermine the values of respect and empathy that we strive to instill in our students. I am asking for your cooperation as we cannot do this alone. Individual maturity levels may hinder some students from understanding the severity of their actions. I urge you to intervene and have open, honest conversations with your children about their actions toward others. Furthermore, review the contents of your child’s phone often. Monitoring your child’s phone validates for them the importance of responsible cell use. I cannot overstate the seriousness of this issue.
Without a doubt, your partnership and cooperation in this matter will ensure that, together, we create a safer and more respectful school community. It is critically important that you are aware of any activity on your child’s phone as students are utilizing their phones to record themselves and others both on and off school grounds. If possible, I highly recommend that students not bring cellphones to school and that you set phone-use boundaries that are frequently monitored. These efforts can help ensure that they are not sending or receiving inappropriate content. Your vigilance is urgently needed.
I am available to answer any questions or discuss concerns that you may have. Please do not hesitate to contact me or the school directly. Thank you for your attention to this matter.
Respectfully yours,
Teresa DeBrito
Dr. Teresa DeBrito, Superintendent of Schools
East Haddam Public Schools
May 14, 2024
Dear Parents/Guardians,
I am writing to inform you of an important development regarding our middle school leadership. Mr. Peacock, principal of Nathan Hale-Ray Middle School, has decided to retire, effective June 30, 2024. We are appreciative of Mr. Peacock’s years of dedicated service to our school community and wish him all the best in his well-deserved retirement.
In light of Mr. Peacock’s retirement, we have begun the process of selecting a new middle school principal who will uphold the high standards of excellence that our school community values. To ensure that we identify a candidate who embodies the qualities and characteristics important to our parents, please consider attending the following virtual meetings. These meetings will provide an opportunity for us to discuss the specific attributes and qualifications that you believe are essential in our next middle school principal.
Additionally, you are invited to complete a survey. Your input is invaluable, and I strongly encourage you to take the time to share your thoughts and insights regarding the qualities you believe our new middle school principal should possess. Your feedback will play a vital role in guiding our search process and ultimately selecting the candidate who is the best fit for our school community.
We understand the importance of having strong and effective leadership in all our schools. I welcome the opportunity to speak with you in person or over the telephone.
Thank you for your continued support and partnership as we work together to ensure the success and wellbeing of our students. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact my office.
With warm regards,
Teresa DeBrito
Dr. Teresa DeBrito, Superintendent of Schools
East Haddam Public Schools
