In the News

Decorated North Haven Veteran Named to School Post

November 18th, 2013

MERIDEN >>Todd A. Solli, a war veteran who grew up in New Haven and lives in North Haven, was named in October as the new assistant principal of regional Thomas Edison Middle School run by Area Cooperative Educational Services, ACES has announced.

“I’ve grown to have a lot of patience,” Solli said this week about his experience in the Air National Guard from 1996 to 2008, “and (learned) how to really communicate with people and build relationships. ... It has helped me develop those skills.”

Solli, 38, the married father of a toddler, worked as a munitions controller in the Guard and served three tours in the Mideast. His time in the military “is a good hook, and it gets them (students) interested in you, and (helps build) a rapport with students.”

Edison Middle School is a sixth- through eighth-grade science and technology school on North Broad Street in Meriden serving 722 students from Hamden, North Haven, Wallingford, Middletown and other communities.

In a previous job, Solli was the STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) leader and instructional manager for the New Haven Board of Education. He served his country in three tours during Operation Southern Watch in Kuwait, Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom and received the Bronze Star with Valor, Air Force Commendation Medal and Operation Iraqi Freedom Service Medal with Presidential citation for active role in combat.

Solli said he was drawn to Edison “because I had heard so many great things about ACES in general ... and coming from New Haven, we actually worked a lot with ACES (on) professional development and suchAnd then having Edison being pretty much a STEM school, it’s really neat to be working with what I became a teacher for, science, and continue that here as an administrator.”

Solli said he’s honored to have been selected. “Everyone’s been very kind and welcoming; it’s been a really great experience so far.” Solli attended Albertus Magnus, University of New Haven and Southern Connecticut State University, working through the Alternative Route to Certification program in 2002.

“Todd brings a great depth of knowledge and experience in the area of STEM learning and education leadership...” said ACES Executive Director, Dr. Craig W. Edmondson, “We are also extremely proud to have a decorated war veteran as part of the ACES community.”

ACES is a regional educational service center that provides schools, services and programs to the 25 communities in New Haven County.

Edison features a curriculum based on the Understanding by Design model and allows students and teachers to be inquiry-based learners and instructors in a constructivist setting, according to the school’s website.Technology is an integral part of every aspect of the school.

http://www.nhregister.com/general-news/20131114/decorated-north-haven-veteran-named-to-school-post#.Uodt3KkRge8.email