Grasso Tech says goodbye to one principal, welcomes another

Groton ― Ella T. Grasso Technical High School Principal Patricia Feeney said that over her more than a decade at the school, she is most proud of helping provide so many opportunities for young people in the area.

Feeney, who became principal in 2012, plans to retire at the end of this month, after seeing the technical school change dramatically over her tenure.

Feeney said when she started at the school, she heard Grasso Tech described as “the best kept secret.” Slowly but surely, school officials worked to get the word out about the school, including by increasing recruitment efforts, attending meetings with clubs and organizations, reaching out to businesses, and making a connection with Electric Boat.

Since she started, enrollment has grown, from below 400 students, to now nearly 700, she said.

A new 226,000-square-foot high school building opened in 2019, which drew many students and allowed the school to offer more for students, Feeney said. She said the new building increased enrollment, as well as participation with businesses and industries and sports programs. For example, students now practice football on the school’s field, soccer games are held at Grasso, and the school has a track.

During her tenure, the school has added the popular welding and digital media trades. Connecticut State Community College Three Rivers has a manufacturing program for adults, in a separate part of the building, and runs evening trade programs.

This year, Grasso Tech had at least 33 graduating students hired by Electric Boat, the highest number in the state, she said.

The number of students participating in work-based learning also grew, with about 65 students in the program at the end of the year, she said.

“I’ve been fortunate to work with amazing people that were willing and able to make the connections with us,” said Feeney, noting that the timing was perfect as Electric Boat was beginning to increase its workforce when she started at the school.

Feeney praised the school’s staff that was on board with making innovative changes.

Feeney, a Plainfield resident who is originally from New Jersey, said her mother was a teacher, and Feeney always wanted to be an elementary school teacher. She began her career teaching kindergarten and first grade in Chaplin.

After taking time off from teaching to have children, she returned to teach middle school in Plainfield, which she loved. She then was hired in 2005 as principal of Howell Cheney Technical High School in Manchester and joined Ella T. Grasso Technical High School in 2012.

Feeney said she will be sad to leave the school, but it’s time for a change. She plans to spend more time with family and travel.

“I’ve loved every minute of it,” she said.

Donald Concascia, now principal at Norwich Technical High School, said he was hired by Feeney in 2012 as assistant principal at Grasso Tech and she mentored him. He said Feeney “led by example and was a pillar among tech school administrators across the state.”

“She is a wealth of knowledge, but more importantly, she is a kind, considerate, wonderful person,” he added.

Justin Lowe, interim superintendent of the Connecticut Technical Education and Career System, said Feeney has served as a district innovator, mentoring other principals and serving on many district committees. He said she would be missed, but she is being replaced with an experienced principal.

New principal returning to Groton

The incoming principal at Grasso Tech, Daniel Mello, is a Groton resident who has lived in the area for more than 20 years and was assistant principal at Grasso more than a decade ago. He starts on July 12.

Lowe described it as ”a homecoming of sorts.“

Mello said he’s excited to be back in the Groton area, and is already familiar with about half of the staff and looks forward to meeting the students.

Mello said he started his career in southeastern Connecticut teaching at Ledyard High School, as a social studies teacher and the department head, and then joined the Connecticut Technical Education and Career System as assistant principal at the Henry Abbott Technical High School in Danbury. He then served as assistant principal at Grasso Tech for three years before becoming principal at E.C. Goodwin Technical High School in New Britain. After that, he served as principal at A.I. Prince Technical High School in Hartford for seven years.

He said Feeney was his mentor at Grasso and he’s looking to make sure he upholds the progress that she has made.

“I’m looking forward to making sure that each student achieves at a successful level at Grasso Tech,” he said.

He said he would work again with Maggie Chmura, an assistant principal at Grasso Tech, and “excellent administrator” he worked with when she was assistant principal and he was principal at Goodwin Tech.

Mello said he enjoyed his experience at A.I. Prince, but at this time it’s nice to join a school in a community where has has lived for more than 20 years and has a sense of the community ― and have a shorter commute.

Mello, who looks forward to attending sports games, said he is a big proponent of students being involved in school activities and also in promoting community involvement in the school.

He said he looks forward to continuing the school’s partnership with Electric Boat and students’ participation in work-based learning.

“I really do look forward to meeting with all the kids, and one of the things I want to do is certainly create a sense of community in the school and see the students be successful,” he said.

k.drelich@theday.com