Graduates of Certification Program Land Top School System Jobs

Sacred Heart provides educational leaders with tools they will need as school superintendents

Sacred Heart University’s school superintendent certification program has only existed since 2018, but two of its graduates already have secured jobs as superintendents in Connecticut public school systems.

Kenneth Saranich ’97, graduated from SHU’s Isabelle Farrington College of Education superintendent of schools (093) certification program in 2020, and Alison Villanueva ’15, graduated in 2019. Saranich was appointed superintendent of Shelton’s public schools last November, and Villanueva was named Watertown’s school superintendent in January.

Sacred Heart’s one-year, 15-credit program prepares educators to become school superintendents through coursework and a yearlong internship. Highly successful school superintendents teach the curriculum, providing personal insight into the job’s demands as well as the opportunities to shape education in a positive way.

“Both Ken and Alison held central office leadership positions when they entered the program,” said David Title, an education professor, director of the superintendent certification program and former Fairfield school superintendent. “Combining their successful leadership experience with the learning in our program made them ideal candidates for a superintendent’s position. Both embraced the new learning experiences, including the yearlong intensive internship, to prepare themselves for the position. They were outstanding students, and I have no doubt they will be outstanding superintendents.”

Saranich, a Stratford native who lives in Shelton, earned his master’s degree in teaching from SHU in 1997. Inspired by his history teacher at Notre Dame High School in Fairfield, Saranich became a social studies teacher in Trumbull before moving into administrative roles in Milford and Shelton.

He recalled only positive experiences at SHU. As someone who relishes education and learning, he said he was a sponge in the classroom, absorbing information that prepared him for his next career step.

“I absolutely loved the 093 program,” Saranich said. “The professors were amazing and really connected with each of us on a personal level. The curriculum was rigorous and covered the essentials.”

Saranich started the program in 2019 when he was assistant school superintendent in Shelton. He had no immediate plans to become a superintendent, he said; he simply wanted to support the Shelton superintendent by honing his skills and learning more about the job through education.

He was a few months into SHU’s program when the pandemic hit, and that meant moving to online courses. However, virtual learning did not impede the program’s impact on Saranich or his peers.

“I really valued this program, but what meant the most to me was the cohort—my colleagues,” Saranich said. The group members made such positive, long-lasting relationships, personally and professionally, they even have a group text. Not a day goes by without someone messaging and checking in, Saranich said.

Throughout the year of study, the group collaborated, helped and led one another. There was considerable networking, and they visited each other’s schools. Their school systems benefited as the cohort worked to improve their districts, Saranich said.

Villanueva, a native of Toronto, Canada, came to the United States in 2004 to pursue graduate studies in education at New York University. Before then, she was a classroom teacher and acting administrator. She always had been passionate about becoming an educational leader. “I wanted to impact as many people as possible, with the end goal always focused on creating positive experiences for a whole community of students,” Villanueva said.

She earned her Ph.D. in English education at Columbia University’s Teachers College and was co-founder and director of the school’s Studies in Educational Innovation, a center dedicated to exploring factors that contribute to educational excellence in schools around the world. Villanueva worked with school systems across the globe and, after five years of intense travel, she settled in Connecticut. She earned her intermediate administrator certification (092) from SHU in 2015.

“I’m so proud to be a product of SHU,” said Villanueva, who was a principal in Danbury and Ridgefield then a central office administrator for several years. While an adjunct professor at Sacred Heart, she heard about the new superintendent certification program and was immediately intrigued when she learned of the faculty who would be leading each course in the program. She enrolled in 2018.

She said she was impressed that faculty brought in sitting superintendents to discuss best practices and effective leadership. The program also encourages its students to go to schools, see superintendents in action and learn by experiencing the job.

“The program was so strong. The faculty roster was impressive and It wasn’t just about theory. It connected the practical piece any new superintendent knows is invaluable.  I networked with fellow colleagues, I met a lot of good people and made some amazing connections,” Villanueva said.

Like Saranich, Villanueva said she didn’t plan to become a school superintendent right away. But when the Watertown position opened, she was interested, applied and got the job.

“There is nothing like being a superintendent. The work involves every aspect of an educational system that you can think of and it impacts every student, faculty and family in a community. I credit SHU for all we do in terms of preparation for leadership and the education it provides. Sacred Heart continues to be part of my educational and career journey and I feel very lucky to say that I was part of the first 093 cohort,” Villanueva said. 

Photo caption: From left are Dave Irwin, Kenneth Saranich, Janet Robinson, Dean Michael Alfano, David Title and Alison Villanueva.