Dr. Karissa Niehoff began her career in Connecticut public education in 1989 as a physical education instructor at Greenwich High School. In the succeeding years, she worked as a physical education and health teacher both at the middle and high school levels, first at Joel Barlow High School in Redding and then at Bethel Middle School. In 1993, she joined the staff of Litchfield High School where, over the course of six years, she taught Personal Wellness and Latin and served as the K-12 Wellness/Exercise Science Department Coordinator and as athletic director. In 2000, Karissa was appointed assistant principal of Har-Bur Middle School in Burlington. Four years later, she assumed the position of principal of Lewis Mills High School, a post she held until being named Deputy Executive Director of CAS-CIAC on July 1, 2010. On January 1, 2011 she succeeded Michael H. Savage as CAS-CIAC’s Executive Director

A sports enthusiast, Karissa served for four years on the Education Committee of the United States Olympic Committee, authoring the “OlympiKids School Celebration Guide,” acting as U.S. delegate to International Olympic Academies in Greece and Canada, and representing the USOC at numerous national conventions, conferences and educational programs. Karissa was also co-founder and dean of the “Passing The Torch” Academy For Youth Sport Leadership, a USOC initiative to promote leadership and the spirit of Olympism within the realm of youth sport.

A successful high school field hockey coach at Joel Barlow and Litchfield, Karissa’s teams earned four conference titles and one state championship. Karissa has served on the United States Field Hockey Association Board of Ethics since 1996 and, in the summer of 1996, she was the field hockey program leader at the International Youth Camp during the Atlanta Olympic Games. Karissa also coached high school volleyball, softball, basketball and track. In 1997, she coached a girls basketball team at the World Scholar Athlete Games which involved over 2,000 coaches and athletes from 150 countries.

Karissa has conducted numerous in-service workshops and presentations at the local, regional and national levels. She has led forums on topics such as NEASC standards and the accreditation process, Professional Learning Communities, block scheduling, literacy development, using student performance data to drive program development, brain research, curriculum mapping, and NCLB and other legislative issues.

Prior to assuming the position of executive director, Karissa served on numerous CAS and CIAC boards and committees, including:

• Sportsmanship Committee(2005-2010 / Chair: 2005-2010)
• Michaels Cup Committee (2007-2010)
• Field Hockey Committee (2007-2010)
• CIAC Board of Control – Class M Representative (2006-2010)
• High School Professional Studies Committee (2004-2010)
• Committee for the Advancement of Young Girls and Women in Sports (1996-2000)

E-Mail: kniehoffcasciacorg  (kniehoffcasciacorg)   Telephone: 203-250-1111, ext. 3903

Jennifer Buckley is the Director of Student Activities at CAS. In this position, Jennifer designs and implements leadership development activities, workshops and conferences for elementary, middle and high school students across the state. She is the Executive Director of the CT Association of Student Councils and oversees the Student Council Advisory Board. In addition to her work in student activities, Jennifer works on issues of equity and inclusion within the organization, the constituency and partner organizations. Prior to joining CAS, Jennifer was the Associate Director of Wesleyan University Upward Bound. She worked for the educational opportunity program serving low-income, first generation to college students from Middletown, Meriden and Portland for 11 years. Previously, Jennifer was the Director of Great Hollow Wilderness School in New Fairfield, Connecticut. GHWS is an adventure based leadership development program created to provide high quality, high impact leadership experiences for low-income students, students of color and other under-represented populations. Jennifer has an extensive background in teambuilding, facilitation and design of experiential learning opportunities to serve a wide range of participants from elementary school students to corporate executives. She specializes in leadership development for middle and high school students from high need communities.

E-Mail: jbuckleycasciacorg  (jbuckleycasciacorg)   Telephone: 203-250-1111, ext. 3919

Matt Fischer joined the Central Office staff full-time in July of 2003. A former collegiate sports information director and Major League Baseball media relations director, Matt directed the media efforts for the San Francisco Giants for several years, including the 1989 season which ended with the earthquake-interrupted Bay Bridge World Series.

From 1995-2005 Matt served as president of e-fish solutions, inc., a full service web site design and programming firm. In that capacity he designed and programmed sites for private companies, professional sports teams and government agencies. Also in that role he worked with the central office staff on the development of the original CAS-CIAC website in 1997, and has since programmed all of the site’s enhancements including the online eligibility and tournament forms center, the membership and committee databases and the legislative bill tracking system. Matt, a 2003 recipient of the CAS Appreciation Award for Excellence of Service, serves as CAS-CIAC’s Director of Technology Services, webmaster and network administrator.

E-Mail: mfischercasciacorg  (mfischercasciacorg)   Telephone: 203-250-1111, ext. 3918

Stephanie Ford joined the central office staff in July 2008 as the director of marketing. Her position was created to expand the association’s marketing activities and, in turn, generate resources to enhance and promote association programs and services. In addition to working to develop corporate partnerships, Stephanie serves as the association’s media liaison and works to improve the association’s image and name recognition within the educational community as well as among the general public. Stephanie is a graduate of Salve Regina University where she earned a degree in English/Communications. After graduation, Stephanie worked at John Blair Television in New York before settling in Connecticut. Once in Connecticut, Stephanie went to work for WTXX-TV in Waterbury as an account executive before being promoted to local sales manager there. Later, Stephanie signed on with WTIC-TV, the Fox affiliate, where she continued her sales career as part of a job share team so that she could spend more time with her growing family. In the five years prior to joining the central office staff, Stephanie worked closely with Director of Development Bob Ford to secure corporate sponsors for CAS-CIAC’s many sports tournaments, banquets, and workshops.

E-Mail: sfordcasciacorg  (sfordcasciacorg)   Telephone: 203-250-1111, ext. 3917

Marie graduated from Latin American Institute and became a foreign export correspondent for a medical company in Manhattan. After moving to CT, she earned an associate degree in mental health, a bachelor’s in psychology, a master’s in special education, a 6th-year in educational leadership and a superintendent certificate. She also has TESOL Adult Education Certification. As a special education teacher, she has taught at all levels.

Marie served the New London Public Schools in a variety of roles – first as principal of their facility for the multi-handicapped; then as principal of the early childhood facility; and, ultimately, as director of special services. After eleven years in New London, she was appointed Assistant Superintendent of Special Services in the Hartford Public Schools.

Marie has served as adjunct faculty at Middlesex Community College and Southern Connecticut State University. She is a member of the Regional Education Lab and Northeast Islands, Education Development Center Governing Board, the Alternative Route to Certification for English Language Learners (ARCTELL) Executive Board and the ConnTESOL Executive Board.

For the past eleven years, Marie has worked at the CT State Department of Education as the English as a Second Language – Bilingual Program Education Consultant. As a member of the Council of Chief State School Officers and through her communication with the United States Department of Education and her colleagues around the country, she has brought up-to-date guidance to the state and districts in CT. Her experience in supervision and evaluation and her passion for supporting all students with a particular focus on special education students and English Learners have brought her to CAS.

E-Mail: mglowskicasciacorg  (mglowskicasciacorg)   Telephone: 203-250-1111, ext. 3926 Cell: 860-662-0077

Jill Hale, retired principal of Guilford Lakes Elementary School, began her work with CAS in September of 2017 serving as Assistant Executive Director of Elementary Programs and Services.

Jill began her teaching career in private school in 1982 and moved to public school in 1985. Since that time Jill taught grades 8, 7, 5, 2, and 1 and held administrative positions at the district, middle, and elementary levels. During this time Jill was honored as CAS’ Assistant Principal of the Year and, under her leadership, Guilford Lakes Elementary School was honored to be named CAS’ Elementary School of the Year for 2015-16.

Jill is an enthusiastic advocate for school children of every age. She has a special interest in early childhood education and for children with special needs. At Guilford Lakes she implemented the district’s new Bright Connections program that serves young learners with significant developmental delays. Her genuine care for children, their parents, and her colleagues combined with her enthusiasm and playful attitude help her to take pleasure and pride in her work every day.

Throughout her career in education, Jill has been active on CAS committees including work with Connecticut’s Office of Early Childhood.

E-Mail: jhalecasciacorg  (jhalecasciacorg)   Telephone: 203-250-1111, ext. 3914

Dr. Everett “Ev” Lyons began his career in public education as a language arts teacher at the Catherine M. McGee School in Berlin, Connecticut. In 1978, he was appointed to the position of assistant principal at Newington High School and served there for seven years before assuming the position of principal of Bristol Eastern High School. During Ev’s tenure at Bristol Eastern, both the school and its principal received numerous honors and awards. In 1994, Ev was the recipient of a prestigious CAS Citation, the association’s highest honor; and in 2000, he was selected as the Connecticut High School Principal of the Year. Also in 2000, the Bristol Eastern was recognized by the US Department of Education as a Blue Ribbon School; and, in 2007, it was named a Vanguard School by the Connecticut State Department of Education. Ev retired from Bristol Eastern High School in 2010 after twenty-five years as its leader.

During his forty-year association with CAS, Ev has served on variety of CAS committees:

• CAS Board of Directors (President: 2008-2010)
• Student Activity Board of Control (Chair)
• High School Professional Studies Committee
• High School Board of Control
• Awards and Recognition Committee (Chair)
• Celebration Committee for Principal of the Year Recognition
• Ad Hoc Cheerleading Committee (Chair)
• Red Cross High School Advisory Committee (chair)

His professional work with the Connecticut Department of Education has included:

• Advisory Committee on Professional Standards for Educational Leaders (Chair)
• Focus Groups on teacher and administrator certification
• State Liaison for the New England Secondary School Consortium

Ev joined the CAS-CIAC staff in 2011 as the co-director of the Connecticut Principals’ Center, and was named Associate Executive Director for CAS in September of 2013.

E-Mail: elyonscasciacorg  (elyonscasciacorg)   Telephone: 203-250-1111, ext. 3930

Dave Maloney is the director of the Connecticut Association of Student Activities. As such, he oversees all non-athletic student activities programs and initiatives including the work of the Connecticut Association of National Honor Societies, the Connecticut Association of Student Councils and the Connecticut Debate Society. He also serves as a UCAPP clinical supervisor.

The 1998 High School Assistant Principal of the Year, Dave joins the central office staff following a long and distinguished career in educational administration. In his nineteen years as assistant principal at Branford High School, Dave was the driving force behind a number of successful student activities programs, including the state and nationally recognized Student Assistance Program and the state-recognized Student Volunteer Community Service Program. A sports enthusiast, Dave was an active and dedicated member of the CIAC, serving on the CIAC Board of Control, the CIAC Girls’ Basketball Committee and the CIAC Golf Committee. He was the girls’ basketball tournament director for thirteen years. An accomplished coach, Dave was inducted into the Connecticut Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame (2005) and the Branford Sports Hall of Fame (1997). He was also named CHSCA Girls’ Basketball Coach of the Year in 1986.

E-Mail: dmaloneycasciacorg  (dmaloneycasciacorg)   Telephone: 203-250-1111, ext. 3936

Cheryl Novicelli joined the CAS-CIAC staff in April, 2012 as the first Business Manager in the Association’s long history.

Cheryl came to CAS with 20 years of experience in various financial positions, including 15 years working with the unique financial issues of non-profits. After earning her Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Accounting from the University of Massachusetts she began her career with the firm of Tofias, Fleishman, Shapiro & Co. in Cambridge MA. Prior to joining CAS she spent 10 years as the Controller at Wallingford (CT) Country Club, where she was responsible for all aspects of the general ledger and financial presentation, preparation for the year end audit, and weekly payroll preparation and all human resource items. Before that she spent three years as the Director of Finance for the Meriden (CT) YMCA.

E-Mail: cnovicellicasciacorg  (cnovicellicasciacorg)   Telephone: 203-250-1111, ext. 3928

Karen Packtor, assistant executive director, joined the CAS-CIAC staff in 1992. Karen graduated from Princeton University in 1990 with a degree in French Literature. While in college, Karen volunteered as a tutor and counselor for underprivileged and abused children. Eager to work in the service of children with special needs, Karen was hired as the Director of the CIAC/Special Olympics Unified Sports® Program in 1992. Karen served as director of Unified Sports for two-and-a-half years, during which time she succeeded in building a strong and viable interscholastic athletic program for disabled students in Connecticut. She was appointed to assistant to the executive director in June of 1995 and assistant executive director in May of 1998. In addition to being content editor for the CAS website, Karen is a consultant and recording secretary to the CAS Board of Directors and is responsible for electronic communications, the annual meeting and CEU management.

E-Mail: kpacktorcasciacorg  (kpacktorcasciacorg)   Telephone: 203-250-1111, ext. 3910

Donna Schilke, retired principal of Smith Middle School in Glastonbury and former president of CAS, serves on the Central Office staff as Assistant Executive Director of Middle Level Education.

Donna began serving the Glastonbury public schools in 1989 as a special education teacher at Gideon Welles School and Smith Middle School (SMS). In 2002, she was appointed assistant principal of SMS; and, in 2006, after one year as the district’s director of special education, she became SMS’ principal, remaining in that position until her retirement in 2016. Under Donna’s leadership, SMS garnered numerous awards and honors, including the Connecticut Association of Schools’ Arthur Director Student Leadership Award, the University of Connecticut’s Neag School of Education’s Outstanding Professional Development School designation and the U.S. Department of Education’s prestigious National Blue Ribbon School recognition.

Donna became active in CAS in 2002 as a member of the Assistant Principals Committee. She was immediately tapped for several important leadership roles and ultimately ascended to the CAS Presidency in 2014. That year alone, she was an active member of seven committees and boards and also served as a UCAPP mentor.

Donna was named Connecticut’s Middle School Principal of the Year in 2011 and was awarded a CAS Citation, the association’s highest honor, in 2012.

E-Mail: dschilkecasciacorg  (dschilkecasciacorg)   Telephone: 203-250-1111, ext. 3923

Mary Lee Weber joined the central office in September 2016 in a job share position with Stephanie Ford, in the Marketing Department. Weber previously worked at Cashman + Katz Integrated Communications as the Director of Business Development. Prior to her stint at C+K, she was the Director of Marketing for WTNH, from 1995-2012. News 8 is the ABC affiliate in the Hartford/ New Haven market. She was responsible for community outreach, cause related marketing, sales promotion and strategic partnerships. She began her career on Nantucket Island as the General Manager of the local cable television station and moved to Connecticut to work as an Account Executive for WTXX.

E-Mail: mwebercasciacorg  (mwebercasciacorg)   Telephone: 203-250-1111, ext. 3922

• Anna Flores – Program Facilitator for CT Principals’ Center and Membership Coordinator

E-Mail: aflorescasciacorg  (aflorescasciacorg)   Telephone: 203-250-1111, ext. 3909

• Erin Guarino – Program Manager for Executive Coaching and University of CT Administrator Preparation Program

E-Mail: eguarinocasciacorg  (eguarinocasciacorg)   Telephone: 203-250-1111, ext. 3906

• Jadwiga Herrmann-Brown – Receptionist, Administrative Assistant for CIAC Officials Association

E-Mail: jbrowncasciacorg  (jbrowncasciacorg)   Telephone: 203-250-1111, ext. 3940

• Barbara Horn – Program Manager for Project Unify/Unified Art

E-Mail: bhorncasciacorg  (bhorncasciacorg)   Telephone: 203-250-1111, ext. 3904

• Noreen Liberopoulos – Program Manager for Connecticut Principals’ Center and High School Programs and Services

E-Mail: nliberopouloscasciacorg  (nliberopouloscasciacorg)   Telephone: 203-250-1111, ext. 3925

• Barbara O’Connor – Program Manager for Middle and Elementary Level Services

E-Mail: boconnorcasciacorg  (boconnorcasciacorg)   Telephone: 203-250-1111, ext. 3901

• Joyce Smith – Administrative Assistant for CT Coaching Education Program, CIAC

E-Mail: jsmithcasciacorg  (jsmithcasciacorg)   Telephone: 203-250-1111, ext. 3905

• Judy Sylvester – Administrative Assistant for CIAC Executive Staff and CT Association of Athletic Directors

E-Mail: jsylvestercasciacorg  (jsylvestercasciacorg)   Telephone: 203-250-1111, ext. 3907