Press Releases

John Tarka Appointed as Principal at ACES Whitney Academy

December 22nd, 2020

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 18, 2020

North Haven, CT:  Area Cooperative Educational Services (ACES) appointed John Tarka as its new Principal at Whitney Academy. Mr. Tarka will be leading ACES in its work with students with special needs ranging in age from fourteen to twenty-one and with special needs ranging from cognitive and behavioral needs, to multiple disabilities. “We are thrilled to be able to continue to deliver excellent teaching and learning to our Whitney Academy students and their families under the leadership of John Tarka,” said ACES Executive Director Tom Danehy. Dr. Danehy went on to describe Mr. Tarka ’s outstanding prior work as Assistant Principal at Hillhouse High School in New Haven, as well as his knowledge base, experiences with special needs students, and personality traits that will help to provide equity in learning for students with special needs. Above and beyond that, Mr. Tarka, a talented artist, will bring the creativity and insight of his thinking to the large school community at Whitney Academy. School leadership is a real work of artistry in which John is accomplished and talented. Mr. Tarka was selected from a large pool of applicants and he will begin his work at ACES on January 4, 2021.

Whitney Academy moved to its new school building at 130 Leeder Hill Drive, Hamden last September. Students at Whitney Academy reside in area towns ranging from Stamford to Old Saybrook and from Waterbury to Hartford. Over 170 employees provide services to the students at Whitney Academy.

Area Cooperative Educational Services (ACES) is the regional educational service center for New Haven and parts of Middlesex Counties. Established in 1969, ACES strives each day to fulfill its vision of creating an equitable and socially just world, one life at a time. ACES serves its members districts and others through an ever-growing array of programs, services and schools that meet the needs of a changing educational landscape. As a school district, ACES operates three magnet and eight special education schools. ACES services range from transportation, professional development and school improvement services, technology, translation, international, security, and occupational and physical therapy. ACES operates the Open and Magnet School Parent Choice programs for New Haven County. Its programs include a federally funded Early Head Start Program and ACES ACCESS, a vocational and life skills program for developmentally and physically disabled adults ages 21 and older. For more information, go to www.aces.org.