Superintendent Villar Resigns

Windsor Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Jeffrey Villar has accepted an offer to become the new executive director of the Connecticut Council for Education Reform (CCER), effective October 30, CCER announced Monday night.

"I am thrilled to have been appointed the Executive Director of the Connecticut Council for Educational Reform. I believe that my passion for education and its reform are directly aligned with the mission of CCER," Villar said in a statement released by CCER, a non-profit that works to affect education policy and close Connecticut's achievement gap.

"The achievement gap in Connecticut schools is among our State's most critical public policy issues, and CCER has been in the forefront, supporting critical policy changes to address the issue. I am so very excited to join the organization as it looks to continue its work and extend support to local school districts that are also engaged in the important work of closing the achievement gap,” Villar added.

Since his arrival in Windsor one year ago, Villar worked hand-in-hand with local education leaders in an effort to close Windsor's achievement gap -- most notably so with the hiring of Loyola-Chicago to conduct a review of possible inequities within Windsor's public education system that contribute to poor academic performance for certain groups of students.

Through CCER, Villar thanked the local community, saying it has been "a joy to have worked with passionate parents, students and dedicated educators," and he wishes the community success.

Villar was hired by the Windsor board of education in December 2011, and officially joined the district the next spring. He spent just one full academic year in the district.

He came to Windsor after having served as the superintendent of schools in Rocky Hill.

In his new position, CCER says it expects Villar to raise public awareness through campaigns, defend enacted reforms and advance the non-profit's influence on the local, state and federal levels.

CCER's board of directors chair, Steve Simmons, said the board is excited to have hired Villar, adding, "He brings an extraordinary background in educational leadership and a real passion to improve student achievement throughout our state. We will have a forceful and talented advocate working to narrow Connecticut's achievement gap."