Former Assistant Director will replace retiring Director Linda Dadona after the end of the current school year.

EAST HARTFORD — Goodwin College and the LEARN Regional Educational Service Center have announced the appointment of Tara Amatrudo as the new Director of the Connecticut River Academy. Amatrudo will assume the position on July 1, following the retirement of current Director Linda Dadona.

Amatrudo will be the second individual to hold the position at the environmentally-themed high school, after Dadona helped to launch the school five years ago.

“I’m so excited to continue working with such a unique, amazing environment,” Amatrudo said.

Amatrudo has worked as Assistant Director of CTRA for the past two years, after serving as the school’s Special Education/SRBI Coordinator. She was previously a Special Education teacher, team leader, and program coordinator for the Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports program at Coginchaug High School in Durham. She earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Special Education from Southern Connecticut State University and her sixth year professional diploma from the University of Connecticut’s Administrator Preparation Program.

“Tara will continue to integrate the values and vision of LEARN while fostering and deepening our continued partnership with Goodwin College,” LEARN Executive Director Dr. Eileen S. Howley said. “She is committed to providing all of our students with exceptional education experiences.”

The Connecticut River Academy is an early college magnet high school on Goodwin College’s river campus in East Hartford, operated in cooperation with LEARN. Located beside the historic Connecticut River, the Academy’s environmental studies focus includes river studies; land, water and air quality; plant and animal growth; human ecology; and renewable energy.

Of her successor, Dadona had nothing but praise: “I can’t think of anyone better for the school,” she said.