Greenwich Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Toni Jones on Tuesday announced that Kathryn Natale has been named Special Education coordinator, effective December 16.
Natale replaces Joseph Baynes, who recently departed GPS for a different district closer to his home.
Natale will be responsible for planning, coordinating, and supervising Special Education services, while assisting building administrators in monitoring the instruction of students with disabilities in both general education and Special Education settings.
She will also act as a contributing and primary evaluator for certified Special Education and related services staff, provide assistance to building-based administrators on IEP/PPT meetings, and provide input to Chief Officer of Special Education and Student Supports Dr. Stacey Heiligenthaler, specifically for the district’s preschool and elementary level students as well as supporting students in out of district placements.
“With a deep commitment to supporting students and a wealth of experience as a dedicated Special Education teacher, Ms. Kathryn Natale brings both expertise and passion to this critical leadership role,” Dr. Heiligenthaler said in a release from the district. “I am confident that her leadership will elevate our Special Education program and help us continue to provide the highest level of support to every student we serve.”
Natale began her career in education in 2007 as a kindergarten teacher at New Canaan Country School, followed by positions as a Special Education teacher at Eagle Hill School, Parkway School, and most recently, Glenville School where she worked with students of varying disabilities.
She wrote and reviewed IEP goals and objectives, while collaborating and supporting classroom teachers with instructional modifications and digital tools for continuity and inclusion. In leadership capacities, she served as the interim assistant principal at Old Greenwich School during the 2017-2018 school year, and from 2019 through 2021, she was a Special Education and support services facilitator at Hindley Elementary School in Darien overseeing the SESS team and PPT meetings.
“I am deeply honored to accept the position of Special Education coordinator,” Natale said. “This is an amazing opportunity to enhance the positive culture of Special Education in our preschools and elementary buildings, where children of all abilities are recognized as capable and curious individuals, eager to learn and grow. I am excited to work alongside teachers, administrators, and families to support student learning through developmentally appropriate practices, inquiry-based discovery, and targeted instruction while preserving and celebrating the magic of childhood.”
Natale, a graduate of Greenwich High School, holds bachelors’ degrees in English and sociology from the University of Notre Dame and masters’ degrees in early childhood education and Special Education from New York University.
She earned her 092 Certification and Sixth Year Degree from Sacred Heart University. In 2023, Ms. Natale was selected to participate in a state-funded leadership academy, “Aspiring Leaders in Special Education,” at the University of Connecticut’s Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities Education, Research and Service that focused on leadership within the Special Education system.