Maya McFadden Photo
Glynis King-Harrell and Sondi Jackson at Monday's school board meeting.
When she was still a student at Southern Connecticut State University, speech-language pathologist Sondi Jackson was mentored by New Haven Public Schools Speech and Special Education Supervisor Glynis King-Harrell.
More than three decades later, Jackson is now about to take up the baton from her former mentor and longtime public-school district colleague — but stepping into her role upon the latter’s retirement.
On Monday, the Board of Education unanimously approved the promotion of Jackson to fill that administrative role after the retirement of King-Harrell at the end of this school year. King-Harrell worked for NHPS for 32 years.
For the past 31 years, Jackson, a Newhallville native, has worked as a speech and hearing “itinerant” for NHPS. She’s worked at schools like Ross Woodward, Troup, Clinton Avenue, and Riverside before spending her most recent 25 years at Wexler Grant School.
She will step into her new administrative position on July 1 and start at a salary of $156,956.
“Sondi Jackson has been actively involved in her school communities. Her involvement in community has benefited schools through tutoring and mentoring activities,” Superintendent Madeline Negrón said at Monday’s hybrid school board meeting on Zoom and in-person at Ross Woodward School.
Click here, here, and here to read about previous NHPS and community efforts lead by Jackson.
Negrón added that Jackson has also spent years supervising many speech and language interns and mentoring new employees.
Jackson and King-Herrell first met those three decades ago with the help of another one of Jackson’s mentors, the late Sandra Cavanaugh Holley-Carter, who formerly served as dean of graduate studies at Southern Connecticut State University.
Holley-Carter recognized the small population of Black speech language pathologists and intentionally paired Jackson with King-Herrell, who has helped many Black professionals get into her profession.
“No level of achievement is ever reached in isolation,” Jackson said on Monday.
King-Herrell joined Monday’s meeting in-person as well to congratulate Jackson. Her departing tips to Jackson included: stay child centered; focus on the goal; help and support the superintendent’s vision; be mindful of stakeholders; and support your staff
The supervisor role requires the overseeing of disability services like speech language pathologists, vision teachers and tutors, and hearing paraprofessionals and teachers of the deaf, as well as making school staffing assignments and hires for special education supports within NHPS, and being a special education supervisor for buildings.
“I know she’s ready to step into it,” King-Herrell concluded.
Jackson said she looks forward to learning about the work that comes with being a supervisor. She also hopes to hire more bilingual speech language pathologists and to be “of the community and in the community.”
“I have been preparing and I’m looking forward to the challenge,” Jackson said.
The two hugged while recalling the full-circle moment of Monday’s approved promotion.
Jackson's support system Monday, such as church supporters, Alpha Kappa Alpha Inc sorors, and family members, including her 99-year-old uncle.
“I have served professionally as a proud speech and language pathologist for 31 years. My story and involvement with New Haven Public Schools however spans for 50 years,” Jackson said.
She began with NHPS as a teen counselor at Lincoln Bassett, then a dance instructor for the former Jackie Robinson Middle School. During her undergrad summers she worked in NHPS’ business office and after graduation worked in the personnel department.
In addition to giving thanks to mentors like King-Herrell, Holley-Carter, and former Superintendent Reginald Mayo, Jackson also recognized her late mother Thelma Jackson for inspiring her toward education after dedicating 45 year to NHPS as an assistant teacher and job coach.
At Monday’s meeting the board also heard about the retirements to come of veteran educators on June 30. Those soon-to-be retirees include: Bernadette Casella a special education teacher at Brennan Rogers Magnet School who served NHPS for 15 years; Marybeth Kiely, a special education teacher at King/Robinson Magnet School who served for 25 years; Mindy Taber, a second grade teacher at John S. Martinez who served for 25 years; and Hyacinth Leotaud, a pre‑k assistant teacher at Davis Academy Magnet School who served for 17 years.
Watch the full meeting above.