News Flash

Mansfield Public Schools is seeking input from community members and school families about the vision for the district’s five-year strategic plan update.  The school district is undertaking the initiative to ensure its Mission, Vision, and Core Beliefs are still aligned with the needs of Mansfield students in long-term collaboration with the community.  

The survey is available here.

The community-wide survey is important to school leaders because of the expansive partnerships Mansfield Schools enjoys.  “The greater Mansfield community is critical to our District Development Plan,” says Superintendent Candace Morell.  “The partnerships we maintain with our school families, UConn’s Neag School of Education and their future teachers, E.O. Smith High School, other Town departments who support our work, the volunteers of Bike Mansfield—all of these partners are invested in our students’ futures.  We need to ensure all community voices are heard in how we can best serve our youth for optimal learning experiences to come,” she says.

District leaders invited teaching staff and paraprofessionals to invest a morning during recent professional development to evaluate what their goals are for Mansfield youth, what the knowledge, skills, character traits, and experiences students will need for their future, and what the district is doing to meet those needs. Lastly, the Mansfield classroom educators were asked to share what ways our schools could better prepare students for life. Select students at Mansfield Middle School and Mansfield Elementary School will participate in focus groups to also provide input on their experiences.  

To reach school families and community members, Mansfield Public Schools has posted flyers and table tents with the survey link throughout Town, and will be circulating the survey through social media as well as in-person engagement with stakeholders. School leaders will be visiting the Mansfield Senior Center to share about the process. 

The existing District Development Plan can be found at: https://www.mansfieldct.gov/1489/District-Development-Plans, along with Reports of Progress as presented to the Board of Education three times each year.

Assisting Mansfield Public Schools in this strategic plan update is Gabriela Stiteler, a senior associate with Great Schools Partnership, a nonprofit school-support organization that works with districts to redesign public education and improve learning for all students.  After completing the stakeholder input phase, the district will begin to update the plan in cooperation with the Board of Education.  

Mansfield Public Schools district leadership will complete the updated Development Plan in July, and present it to staff and the community for the school year 2026-27.

Mansfield Public Schools registration is now open for Mansfield resident families interested in enrolling their children for Kindergarten in the district for the 2026/27 school year.

Children who will be age 5 by September 1, 2026 are eligible to begin registration for Kindergarten at Mansfield Elementary School (MES).  Families with children already attending the Pre-Kindergarten (Pre-K) program at Mansfield Elementary School do not need to register them again for Kindergarten. 

This is the third year in Connecticut with the new age of eligibility that ensures students are age 5 by September 1 when school starts.  “Five year olds are much better prepared, socially, emotionally, and developmentally to begin Kindergarten,” says MES Principal Kate McCoy.  “Our data is proving that starting Kindergarten at age five is better for these young students in the long run.  Five year olds are developmentally ready when they walk into Kindergarten,” she adds.

If a family believes that their child is ready to enter Kindergarten before the student is eligible under the state’s age guidelines, they may request a waiver.   The waiver application must be completed by March 30, 2026 at 5 PM as part of the preregistration process. The waiver application is available on the Registration page of the district’s website. 

Families with questions are also encouraged to reach out directly to the Mansfield Elementary School office at 860.423.1611. 

Registration for Mansfield’s PreK Lottery will open April 1.

Dear Mansfield Families,

As I write this, I find myself reflecting on what a remarkable winter this has been! To date, our region has seen total seasonal snow accumulations exceeding thirty inches. Our students have embraced the winter weather, enjoying cross-country skiing and plenty of snow fun on our playgrounds. Many students have shared that they have never experienced this much snow before!

I am deeply appreciative of the collective efforts of our Town of Mansfield Facilities and Department of Public Works (DPW). Together, these teams have coordinated to move mountains of snow from our schools and ensure that roads are safe for bus travel. Attending to the needs of our community during significant snow events—such as the past two storms—is no easy task. Their tireless work allows our schools to open as soon as possible while keeping both staff and students safe.

In light of the recent multi-day closures, I want to share with our community the factors that guide these decisions. The choice to close school due to inclement weather is never made lightly, nor is it made independently. Because Ashford, Willington, and Mansfield all feed into our regional high school, we work collaboratively with these districts and other neighboring superintendents to ensure alignment. In addition, we rely on input from a variety of partners, including our contracted meteorologist, M&J Transportation, and the DPW.

The safety of Mansfield students and staff is our top priority. Road conditions play a significant role in our decision-making. Slick roads—particularly on back roads and hilly terrain—directly impact bus travel. When storms produce significant snowfall, such as the recent blizzard, DPW often requires additional time to properly clear side streets and ensure roads are navigable for buses.

Following the February 23rd blizzard, DPW crews worked more than 30 consecutive hours to keep roads passable. DPW and Mansfield’s Facilities Department are also responsible for clearing sidewalks and parking lots at our municipal and school facilities. While they made tremendous progress, school parking lots were not fully cleared until Tuesday morning. For example, Mansfield Elementary School requires a fleet of contracted trucks to remove accumulated snow. The sheer volume of snow from the blizzard required additional cleanup time, and without that work completed, bus travel would have been challenging at best.

The decision to close again on February 25th was based primarily on the timing and rate of snowfall. Snow was falling so quickly that road crews could not keep up, resulting in slick conditions throughout the morning commute window. Operating the three tiers of transportation for high school, middle school, and elementary school takes approximately 3.5 hours. Whether we ran on time or with a delay, transportation would have been significantly impacted. Our bus fleet cannot operate safely on snow-covered, icy roads, and we determined that conditions did not support safe travel for students and staff.

We understand that school closures can be disruptive for families. Please know that each situation is carefully evaluated with regional collaboration and real-time information from our partners. Ultimately, our responsibility is to ensure students and staff can travel to and from school safely.

In closing, “Think Spring!” In just four short weeks, we welcome the new season and all of the wonders it brings.

In Partnership,Candace Morell

Superintendent of Mansfield Public Schools

 “When children find joy at school, they are more willing to take risks, persevere, and engage in challenging learning.”

The adoption of play-based learning at Mansfield Elementary School at all grade levels, and in after school programming, is highlighted in this article by the national publication, Education Week.  Read how Principal Kate McCoy and her team are embracing play to encourage learning.  

(You can also read the reprint here.:   Play-Based Learning Yields More Joy, Higher Scores at This Elementary School)

To view a pdf of this letter, click here.

View details on the Water Mitigation System at Mansfield Elementary School

LETTER FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT

January 2, 2026 

Dear Mansfield Elementary School Families: 

We are writing today to provide you an update on the water at Mansfield Elementary School. In August 2025, Connecticut Water installed a water mitigation system designed to address corrosion associated with new copper piping. Since the system became operational, monthly water testing has consistently shown that it is functioning as intended and that copper levels continue to decline. Based on these favorable and ongoing test results, we are pleased to share that beginning January 2, 2026, water in the building will be fully available for use and is safe for cooking and drinking from water fountains throughout the school.

For background, water testing began as soon as the new school’s systems were in place. There has never been any issue with the quality of the source water. However, tests revealed that the water running through the extensive copper piping was causing corrosion of the new copper pipe surfaces, elevating the presence of copper in the water. This is common with new construction, and eventually a patina forms inside the piping.

Out of caution, and until testing confirmed acceptable levels, the district has provided bottled water for drinking and cooking since the school opened. After consultation with the Department of Health and Connecticut Water, the School Building Committee was advised to install an Optimal Corrosion Control Treatment chemical injection system. (See attachment for details.) This system adds orthophosphate, a non-toxic corrosion inhibitor that conditions the piping by forming a protective mineral layer inside the copper pipes.

Since the installation of the OCCT system in August, professionals have tested the water each month to measure effectiveness. Copper levels are well below (.277 - .333) what is called an “Actionable Level” of 40 CFR. (Review the full water test report here.) As is required for all public schools, regular testing of the water will continue and we make these tests available to the public. 

Thank you for your patience and understanding as we worked through this issue. We are pleased to have our water fully restored and accessible for use by our MES community. Please feel free to reach out to my office if you have any questions pertaining to this update. 

Sincerely,

Candace Morell

Read the Community Newsletter for Mansfield residents from the Mansfield Board of Education:  Click here

Mansfield Elementary School has been named as a School of Distinction by the Connecticut State Department of Education (CSDE). The CSDE released the results from the 2024–25 Next Generation Accountability System, which offers a comprehensive view of school and district performance across 12 indicators.  

Mansfield Elementary was named a school of distinction for a second year in a row with recognition for their High Performance and High Growth English Language Arts (ELA) among all students.  MES also achieved ELA High Growth among those children identified as High Needs Students.   

According to a press release from the CSDE, “Across the state, many schools demonstrated high performance, notable academic growth, or substantial improvement. Each year, these schools are recognized as schools of distinction for excelling academically, closing achievement gaps, and creating supportive environments where every student can thrive. In 2024–25, 140 schools earned this recognition, including 34 in Alliance Districts, demonstrating that progress is taking root in communities statewide.”  Implemented in 2014–15, the system looks beyond test scores and graduation rates to reflect the many ways schools support student learning and well-being.

“Congratulations to the students, staff, and building leadership for achieving this level of performance two years in a row. This recognition is especially meaningful as Mansfield Elementary completes only its second year as a new school community,” says Superintendent Candace Morell.  “This represents great teamwork.  I am certain that our continued focus and attention to high quality instruction paired with strong core resources will continue to support student growth and success.

“In a year-to-year comparison, both Mansfield Elementary School and Mansfield Middle School show progress,” adds Superintendent Morell. “Our district’s strategic focus on Knowing Students, Supporting the Whole Child and Ensuring Deep Learning is clearly making an impact on all our students based on the growth progress we are seeing.  We want every student to experience growth and a love for learning.”

Mansfield Middle School was also named recently by the U.S. News & World Report as one of the top middle schools in Connecticut.   Superintendent Morell announced, “We are thrilled to celebrate the remarkable achievement of Mansfield Middle School, which has been ranked 28th among all middle schools in the state of Connecticut according to the latest rankings by U.S. News & World Report. This recognition is a testament to the dedication and excellence of our students, faculty, staff, and community.”

She continues, “Their hard work, commitment to learning, and collaborative spirit have set Mansfield Middle apart and showcased what is possible when we work together with purpose and pride.  Congratulations to everyone who contributed to this success—the students who strive for excellence each day, the teachers who inspire and guide them, the support staff who keep everything running smoothly, and the families and community members who support and encourage our school's mission.”

According to U.S. News & World Report the rankings use the same methodology for all included grade levels. They evaluated 284 middle schools in Connecticut. For each state, schools were assessed on their share of students who were proficient or above proficient in their mathematics and reading/language arts state assessments. Half of the formula assessed the scores themselves and the other half incorporated the test results in the context of socioeconomic demographics. In other words, the top-ranked schools are all high-achieving and have succeeded at educating all their students.  https://www.usnews.com/education/k12/middle-schools/connecticut

Mansfield Schools Policy ensures students may charge one breakfast and one lunch meal each day, regardless of their account balance. And please reach out to Mansfield Human Services for other resources.

Mansfield Public Schools and members of the Teacher of the Year Committee selected Julie Hodgson as Mansfield’s 2025–2026 Teacher of the Year. A passionate educator, a reflective practitioner, and a continuous learner, Julie embodies a deep commitment to students and a drive for self-growth. 

The State Teacher of the Year Committee has selected her as a state semifinalist.  Twelve to fifteen semifinalists are selected from all the school district nominees statewide, and make an in-person presentation before an interview panel in mid-September.  Four finalists will be chosen from the group, then State Teacher of the Year will be named.

Julie began her career at Mansfield Middle School more than three decades ago, and now teaches Grade 8 Social Studies.  Over the years, she has blended inspiration from colleagues with tireless investigation into effective teaching practices, constantly evolving her craft. She recognizes that, "it is only by standing on the shoulders of giants and collaborating with colleagues that [she] made a lasting impact on students and families."  

Julie’s contributions extend far beyond her classroom. She is a 2005 Milken Educator Award recipient, and a former Teacher in Residence at the Connecticut Department of Education, where she helped shape the Beginning Educator Support and Training (BEST) Program.  The Neag School of Education at the University of Connecticut also named her as an Outstanding School Educator in 2007.  As a Fund for Teachers Grant Recipient in 2023 she studied literature while visiting Italy.  She recently completed a three-year fellowship in the Human Rights Close to Home Program at the University of Connecticut’s Dodd Center.  

As an active member of the Mansfield Schools community, she has served and led numerous committees, developed curriculum, and regularly engages families. Julie brings her positive and collaborative spirit to every interaction.  “Guided by a dynamic spirit and a profound love of learning, Julie Hodgson has dedicated more than three decades to inspiring students to think deeply, dream boldly, and embrace their potential. She stands as a shining example for both her students and her colleagues,” says Candace Morell, Superintendent of Mansfield Public Schools.

Ms Hodgson addressed her peers with an address at the district’s Convocation ceremony on Monday, August 25.  Convocation’s theme was to Innovate, Educate, Elevate, and Julie spoke to that vision.  She also summed up how to work together to make progress on any goal:  Just Show Up.  “I look forward to showing up with all of you today, and then tomorrow, and definitely on Thursday morning.  It’s the only way that we can elevate and innovate.

“And every time we do show up, we model for our students what we want them to do:

To look up from their phones and fears and unnecessary distractions, and to show up to their own lives — and to the joy of learning and living,” she shared

“Julie has high expectations for herself and for her students,” says Dr. Shamim Patwa, Director of Student Support Services for the district, the department that oversees the Teacher of the Year selection process.  “As she shared in her address to Mansfield educators, she challenges each of us to ‘just show up’ in mind, body, and spirit every day. It is the sum of this daily commitment to ‘just show up’ that helps each one of us make a difference. Her reflective nature is captured in her ability to celebrate successes and to consider the moments where she could have done something differently

“As Julie puts it, ‘I'm on a constant quest not just to be a better teacher, but to be a better person in general, so that I can connect with my students in meaningful ways.’”, says Dr. Patwa. 

The Mansfield Middle School Principal Larry Barlow also expresses his respect for her work. "Julie is an exceptional educator who places her students at the center of everything she does," he says. "She is a master at building genuine relationships, setting and modeling the high standards she expects from her students. We see the results daily, as students in her class grow not only academically, but also as confident, well-rounded individuals.

He adds, "Julie's dedication is unparalleled.  Her commitment to her students is so deep that she constantly finds new ways to ensure every student has the support they need to succeed. Our entire school is incredibly proud of the example she sets for all educators and students. If the committee gets even a small glimpse of the remarkable work we witness every day, we are certain she will be our state's Teacher of the Year."