Rodriguez named interim principal at Nathan Hale Middle School

NORWALK, Conn. – Help is on the way for a beleaguered Norwalk middle school.

The Board of Education voted Tuesday night to appoint a former Brien McMahon High School principal as interim principal of Nathan Hale Middle School. Joseph Rodriguez, who was BMHS principal from 1997 to 2007, will take the reins until a permanent principal is found.

Things have been rocky at the school this year, according to two speakers at a board meeting last month.

“Over the last year, we have endured a period of enormous upheaval,” Gloria Tenofsky said. Her son had four different algebra teachers and three different science teachers over the course of the year, she said.

The school has not had a principal for a year following the departure of former Principal Bob McCain. BOE Chairman Mike Lyons said the board did not feel that any of the applicants it got for the position last year were suitable.

The temporary hiring of Rodriguez will allow the board to start over with its search, Lyons said. The decisions was made on the advice of Superintendent Manuel Rivera, he said.