While Kevin Cazzetta's face may have been familiar to many when he returned to Simsbury, the first year Tootin' Hill principal feels everyone deserves a personal approach.
So while he faces many responsibilities as he settles in at the school this year, he'd like to learn the name of each of the school's approximate 400 students.
"It connects me with them on a more personal level," he said. "I want to be as visible as possible."
The job heading Tootin' Hill marks Cazzetta's first stint as a school principal but his educational experience is fairly extensive, including several years in Simsbury.
For the past six years, he served as assistant principal for Greens Farms School in Westport but when he learned of the Simsbury opening, he decided to go for it.
"I thought it was a great opportunity and I'm fortunate it worked out," he said.
It's no exaggeration to call it a true homecoming. Not only had Cazzetta spent more than 10 years in town as a 5th and 6th grade teacher and resource specialist before going to Greens but he had also student taught at Tootin' in 1992. Furthermore he grew up in town.
Cazzetta said one thing he loves about Tootin' is how the school has retained its identity.
“It always had that sense of community and collaboration,” he said. “It's a big town but it has that small-town feel.”
Superintendent Matthew T. Curtis said Cazzetta is doing well in the transition. He replaced Ron Perrault, who led the school for more than 20 years.
Cazzetta is a proven leader, Curtis said.
“I just feel fortunate we were able to get him back here to join our team,” Curtis said.
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