Press Releases

Steve Cook Named New ACES Director of Human Resources

December 20th, 2019

StevenCook has been named ACES new Director of Human Resources

(North Haven, CT. December 20, 2019) Area Cooperative Educational Services (ACES) is proud to announce the appointment of Steven J. Cook as Director of ACES Human Resources. Steve comes to ACES after spending more than five years as a principal and human resource intern with the West Hartford Public School District. He will report to ACES Executive Director Dr. Thomas Danehy who made the announcement.

“We are very excited that Steve is joining our team to head up our human resources and recruiting efforts. With more than 980 employees, this is an important role at ACES and his overall experience as a human resource professional and middle school principal is the perfect combination for our diverse populations of students, families, and staff,” said Danehy. “We pride ourselves in making sure that we maximize our resources to serve our schools and market resources now and in the future. Steve will definitely strengthen our team to accomplish that goal.”

Steve assumes the department’s management duties from Carol Bunk, who is retiring from ACES after serving the agency, students and families for more than 36 years. Steve earned an undergraduate Bachelor of Arts degree (1992) from the University of Albany (NY). He then completed the Masters of Arts program with an emphasis in Counselor Education from the University of New Hampshire in 1996. He went on to receive his 092 from the University Of Connecticut and is currently completing the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) Certification. Steve’s background features more than 22 years of professional experience in education with a focus on developing and fostering relationships and cultures conducive for professional growth.

“I couldn’t be more excited about my new challenge at ACES. My goal at ACES is to maximize the use of resources available to recruit a professional and diverse workforce for an agency that already possesses a great reputation for hiring quality teachers,” said Cook. “I came to ACES because of its stellar reputation for providing diverse and unique individualized programs and services for the students and the communities it serves.”

Cook assumes the post on January 27, 2020 and will be headquartered in ACES’ Peter C. Young Building located at 350 State Street, North Haven.

About ACES:

Area Cooperative Educational Service’s (ACES) is to transform lives through education, innovation, and leadership. One of six Connecticut regional educational service centers, ACES is the regional educational services center for the twenty-five communities in New Haven and is both a school district and a non-profit services agency. ACES serves 2,300 students from fifty-seven communities throughout Connecticut at its three magnet schools and nine special education schools. ACES service divisions include international educational programs and services, technology, transportation, translation, behavior services and autism programs, extension therapy services (occupational and physical therapy), assistive technology, collaborative programs, professional development, human resources and financial services, and ACCESS, a vocational and life skills program for developmentally and physically challenged adults. ACES also runs the Open Choice program for New Haven County as well as a magnet school parent choice program for its Wintergreen Interdistrict Magnet School and Thomas Edison Middle School. Additionally, ACES runs the Middlesex County Early Head Start Partnership program. For additional information, go to www.aces.org.