Daniel Katz Named Special Education Program Coordinator

Greenwich Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Toni Jones today announced that Mr. Daniel Katz has been named special education program coordinator, effective later this month. Mr. Katz replaces Ms. Krystina Dawson, who recently departed GPS to become the district mental health supervisor at Trumbull Public Schools.

Mr. Katz will be responsible for meeting the needs of students with exceptionalities; providing support to Special Education teachers and parents through Planning & Placement Team meetings; supporting and providing professional development trainings; coordinating with special education teachers and/or general education classroom teachers to ensure equitable access to curriculum; and supervising the District evaluation teams. He will report directly to Chief Officer of Special Education and Student Supports Dr. Stacey Heiligenthaler.

“We are excited to welcome Mr. Katz to the department of special education and student supports,” Dr. Heiligenthaler said. “He brings with him a vast knowledge, from both public and specialized school programs, that will support special education programming for all students in our district.”

Mr. Katz comes to GPS from Cooperative Educational Services’ Therapeutic Day Program in Trumbull, where he served as the program administrator since 2019, contributing to strategic planning and leadership team initiatives. From 2014 through 2019, he was first a school counselor, life coach, and college coach, before becoming the director of guidance and then dean of students at the Spire School in Stamford, an independent, therapeutic day school for intellectually capable students in Grades 6-12 who struggle academically, socially, and emotionally. Mr. Katz’s prior experience also occurred at Wilton High School and Norwalk High School.

“I am thrilled to be joining a community that prioritizes high expectations for all learners,” Mr. Katz said. “As an educator, I aspire to meet the diverse needs of all students and look forward to collaborating with both in-district and out-of-district programs to facilitate meaningful learning opportunities for our students.”

Mr Katz holds a masters in Counselor Education from Fairfield University. He earned his administrator certification and Sixth Year Degree in Educational Leadership from Sacred Heart University.