SPS Announces Assistant Principals for Special Education

New APs will focus on the implementation of high-quality specialized instruction to support more than 2,800 students with disabilities

Superintendent Dr. Tamu Lucero and Chief Academic Officer Amy Beldotti are pleased to announce that Stamford Public Schools (SPS) has filled the 11 Assistant Principal (AP) for Special Education positions that were approved in May as part of the FY26 budget process.

Following are the new APs for Special Education along with their assignments for 2025-26:

Catherine Albrecht*: Stamford High School
Lee-Ann Baranowski*: Cloonan Middle School and Roxbury Elementary School
Dr. Rachel Bria*: Turn of River Middle School and SPS Anchor
Tim Foley*: Rogers International
Dr. Emily Krol*: Dolan Middle School and Springdale Elementary School
Michael Macchio*: Julia A. Stark Elementary and Newfield Elementary
Brie O’Bryan*: Northeast Elementary and Scofield Magnet Middle School
Amy Ofiero*: Toquam Magnet Elementary, K.T. Murphy Elementary, and Out of District Placements
Christie Robinson: AITE and Rippowam Middle School
Oraina Simmons: Westhill High School
Dr. Rachael Wiggins*: Stillmeadow Elementary

Of the 11 new APs for Special Education, nine (*) are SPS teacher leaders or related services providers who are being promoted to administrators.

The APs for Special Education will assist building administrators in the implementation of high-quality specialized instruction to support all students with disabilities (SWD). They will be responsible for hiring and supervising all special education teachers, related services staff, and special education paraeducators at their school(s). As instructional leaders for special education, they will support teachers in delivering appropriate instruction to SWDs and will facilitate building-wide and individual professional development on special education topics. They also will be responsible for maintaining compliance with all local, state, and federal special education requirements, and for supporting student transitions, IEP modifications and case management. They will report to their building principal(s) and to the Director of Special Education and Related Services.

Three schools already had assistant principals on staff who were handling the AP for Special Education responsibilities at their schools:

Jeffrey Bianco at Strawberry Hill;
Marshell Medley at Stillmeadow Elementary, who is moving to Davenport Ridge and Hart Elementary; and
Kathleen Quaglino at Westover Magnet K-7.

The percentage of students who qualify for special education and related services is increasing statewide and nationally. In Stamford, more than 17 percent of PreK-12 students qualified for special education and related services in 2024-25, up from about 12 percent in 2015-16. Of the 2,824 SPS SWDs who qualified for special education and related services in 2024-25, 94 percent were educated in-district.

Stamford had the highest student-to-administrator (165.9-to-1) and SWDs-to-administrator (26.6-to-1) ratios in Lower Fairfield County in 2024-25. The addition of these new APs will bring the ratios down to 150.4-to-1 and 24.1-to-1, respectively, still ranking among the highest in the region.

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APs for Special Education Biographies

Catherine Albrecht joined Stamford Public Schools as a Speech Language Pathologist at Stamford High School in 2018. She was Stamford High’s Restorative Student Support Facilitator in 2023-24 and the Multi-Tiered System of Support Specialist in 2024-25. She began her education career as a Speech Language Pathologist in the Los Angeles Unified School District in 2014. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Boston University, a Master of Science in Communication Sciences and Disorders from Emerson College, and a Master of Education in Educational Leadership from the American College of Education. She has professional certifications in Speech and Language Pathology (CT 061) and K-12 Intermediate Administration or Supervision (CT 092).

Lee-Ann Baranowski began her career as a first grade teacher at P.L. Dunbar School in Bridgeport, and was a special education teacher, first grade teacher, and kindergarten teacher at Springdale Elementary School in Stamford. She is currently the IEP Compliance Teacher for Middle Schools in the SPS Teaching & Learning Department, where she works with teachers and administrators at the five comprehensive middle schools. Baranowski was also a Summer School Teacher for Stamford Public Schools for seven years, and has been a TEAM Mentor to new educators for the last four years. Baranowski earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from Southern Connecticut State University, a Master of Arts in Special Education from Fairfield University, and a Sixth Year Certificate in Educational Leadership from the University of Bridgeport. She has professional certifications in Elementary Education Grades K-6 (CT 013), PreK-Grade 12 Comprehensive Special Education (CT 165) and K-12 Intermediate Administration or Supervision (CT 092).

Rachel Bria has more than 25 years of experience with Stamford Public Schools as a school psychologist at all levels from PreK to 12, including the last six years as the District Department Head for Psychology. Dr. Bria began her career in school psychology with Hart Magnet and Toquam Magnet Elementary Schools, later moving to Apples Preschool. She joined Stamford High School in 2015, where she also was a member of the scientific research based intervention (SRBI) team. In addition to serving as District Department Head of Psychology, Dr. Bria has been the school psychologist at AITE since 2019. Dr. Bria earned a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Defiance College, a Master of Arts in Developmental Psychology from Columbia University Teachers’ College, a Certificate in School Psychology from Fairfield University, a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology from California Southern University, and a Sixth Year Certificate in Intermediate Administration from Sacred Heart University. She has professional certifications in School Psychology (CT 070) and K-12 Intermediate Administration or Supervision (CT 092).

Tim Foley has more than 20 years of experience as a math teacher, math coach and International Baccalaureate Programme Coordinator with Rogers International School. He earned Bachelor of Science in Economics from the State Univeristy of New York at Buffalo, a Masters of Science in Elementary Education from the University of Bridgeport, a Master of Arts in Math Education Grades 5-9 from Western Governors’ University, and a Sixth Year Certificate in Intermediate Administration from Sacred Heart University. He has professional certifications in Technology/Unified Arts Education PreK-12 (CT 047), Elementary Education PreK-6 (CT 002), Middle School Mathematics Grades 4-8 (CT 229), and K-12 Intermediate Administration or Supervision (CT 092).

Dr. Emily Krol is a licensed psychologist with more than 15 years of experience in public education. She began her career as a School Psychologist with Shelton Public Schools, and later spent 14 years with Norwalk Public Schools, where she was the school psychologist for the early childhood evaluation team and several elementary schools, a district autism evaluator, a member of the district crisis team, an IEP compliance coordinator, and a PPT administrator. She joined Stamford Public Schools as the District IEP Compliance Teacher in 2024. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from St. John Fisher College and both a Master of Arts in School, Child, and Family Psychology and a Doctorate in Psychology from Alfred University. She is currently completing a program in intermediate educational administration at Sacred Heart University. She has professional certification in School Psychology (CT 070).

Michael Macchio has more than 15 years of experience as a special education teacher and teacher leader. He began his career with Stamford Public Schools as a Special Education Teacher at Turn of River Middle School, and later served as a Special Education Teacher and Teacher Leader for Student Support at Newfield Elementary School. He was a Special Education Teacher at Westover Magnet in 2023-24 and was named the Multi-Tiered System of Support Specialist for Julia A. Stark Elementary for the 2024-25 school year. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in History from the University of Connecticut, a Master of Science in Secondary Education from Sacred Heart University, Special Education Certification from Southern Connecticut State University, and a Sixth Year Certificate in Educational Leadership from the University of Bridgeport. He has professional certifications in Grades 7-12 Secondary History and Social Studies (CT 026), PreK-Grade 12 Comprehensive Special Education (CT 065), and K-12 Intermediate Administration or Supervision (CT 092)

Brie O'Bryan is a special education teacher leader with more than a decade of experience with Stamford Public Schools. She was most recently a K-2 special education resource teacher at Northeast Elementary School and Julia A. Stark Elementary School. She began her career with SPS at Apples PreK in 2013, where she taught an inclusion class for 3-5 years old students with disabilities. O’Bryan was also the lead teacher for the Stamford Public Education Foundation’s Summer Start Program from 2021 to 2024, and Special Education Head Teacher for the SPS Extended School Year (ESY) program from 2014 to 2020. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Human Development and Family Studies from the University of Connecticut, a Master of Science in Childhood Education from Mercy College, and a Sixth Year Certificate in Educational Leadership from Central Connecticut State University. She has professional certifications in PreK-Grade 12 Comprehensive Special Education (CT 165), K-6 Elementary Education (CT 013), Integrated Early Childhood/Elementary Education N-3 and Special Education N-K (CT 113) and K-12 Intermediate Administration or Supervision (CT 092).

Amy Ofiero has more than 25 years of experience in special education as a classroom and IEP compliance teacher. She began her career with SPS teaching PreK-K students with Autism in a self-contained classroom at K.T. Murphy Elementary School, later moving to Ox Ridge Elementary School in Darien to teach K-5 students with Autism and Low Incidence Disorders in a self-contained classroom. She returned to Stamford as a special education teacher in both an inclusive preschool setting and in a self-contained ASD classroom at Roxbury Elementary School from 2006 to 2016. Since 2016, she has been an IEP Compliance Teacher for Stamford Public Schools. She earned a Bachelor of Science in special education PreK-12 and a Master of Science in Special Education from Southern Connecticut State University and a Sixth Year Certificate in Educational Leadership from Central Connecticut State University. She has professional certifications in PreK-Grade 12 Comprehensive Special Education (CT 165) and K-12 Intermediate Administration or Supervision (CT 092).

Christie Robinson is a veteran instructional leader who joined Stamford Public Schools as an Assistant Principal at Dolan Middle School in 2022. Prior to Dolan, Robinson spent 14 years with Norwalk Public Schools where she was a House Leader & Learning Specialist, Tech Coach, STEM Coordinator, Curriculum and Instruction Site Director, Assistant Principal and District Math Coach. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education and a Master’s Degree in Teacher Leadership and Administration from Central Connecticut State University. She also earned a Master of Science in Administration from the University of Connecticut. She has professional certifications in K-6 Elementary Education (CT 013), and K-12 Intermediate Administration or Supervision (CT 092).

Oraina Simmons joins Stamford Public Schools from Hartford, where she was Principal of Achievement First Hartford Summit Middle School. Prior to joining Hartford Summit Middle School in 2022, she was an Academic Dean, Principal in Residence, and Interim Principal at Elm City Prep Elementary School in New Haven, and an ELA Inclusion Specialist at Achievement First Hartford Elementary Academy in Hartford. She began her teaching career as an ELA and special education teacher at Oak Park Preparatory Academy in Sacramento, CA as part of the Teach for America Program. Simmons earned a Bachelor of Science in Elementary and Special Education and a Bachelor of Science in Behavioral Studies from the University of Hartford, a Master of Arts in Education from Johns Hopkins University, and a Sixth Year Certificate in Educational Leadership from the University of Bridgeport. She has professional certifications in Elementary Education Grades K-6 (CT 305), PreK-Grade 12 Comprehensive Special Education (CT 165), and K-12 Intermediate Administration or Supervision (CT 092).

Dr. Rachael Wiggins joined Stamford Public Schools as a fifth grade teacher at Stillmeadow Elementary where she later worked as a special education teacher, SRBI Support Teacher, IEP Compliance and Specialized Reading Team Leader, and Multi-Tiered System of Support Specialist. Prior to joining SPS, she spent four years with the New York City Department of Education as a first grade teacher, creative writing teacher, and 5th grade teacher at The Edward A. Fogel School for Critical Thinking (PS 68). She began her teaching career with the Archdiocese of New York, where she was a middle school ELA teacher at St. Mark the Evangelist School and Visitation School. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from College of the Holy Cross, a Master of Science in Education in Childhood and Special Education from Manhattan College, a Certificate of Advanced Study in Educational Leadership and a Doctorate in Educational Leadership from the University of Bridgeport, and is currently pursuing a Certificate in Remedial Reading from Sacred Heart University. She has professional certifications in PreK-Grade 12 Comprehensive Special Education (CT 165), 1-6 Elementary Education (CT 305), Remedial Reading and Remedial Language Arts, 1–12 (CT 102) and K-12 Intermediate Administration or Supervision (CT 092).

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