"This will be our theory of action and our core approach to education," said Mr. Collins.

The plan affects three domains - curriculum, instruction and assessment. In improving those domains, the school system will enact two core approaches. The first is creating professional learning communities, which will group teachers by grade level or subject content to work together and help each other develop new approaches.

"This is job-imbedded professional development," said Mr. Collins. "They'll work together on a weekly basis and talk about key questions."

The second approach is to respond to intervention as outlined by SRBI (Scientific Research-Based Intervention). According to Mr. Collins, that work is broken into three tiers.

The first tier is where 80 to 85 percent of students will maximize their learning and is an overall approach to classroom instruction using differentiated learning - a process that engages students with a hands-on approach and gives practice and feedback.

The second tier is for those children who need extra support for basic skills, and will engage them with "skill-based instruction" interventions two to three times per week.

The third tier will "intensify" those interventions and try to bring the material to a child "in a different way."

"The key is to find a match between a child's learning level and the materials you are using," said Mr. Collins.

Mr. Collins admitted that budget restraints could make these approaches more difficult due to cuts in teachers and supplies.

"Obviously, resources are essential to our mission," said Mr. Collins. "However, we believe strongly that we can do better if we work smarter and more efficiently."

Mr. Collins, a resident of New Britain, assumed the post of assistant superintendent in July of this year. He received a doctorate from the University of Hartford in educational leadership, his masters from Central Connecticut State University in guidance and counseling, and his undergraduate degree was in technical education.

He has worked as a technical education teacher in the Hartford and New Britain public school systems and as a guidance counselor in Glastonbury. He was principal at the Silas Deane Middle School in Wethersfield and worked under current Superintendent of Schools Karen Baldwin when she was assistant superintendent for human resources there.

He is a life-long New Britain resident, has been married 22 years and has two children, a 20-year-old daughter attending UConn and a 16-year-old son attending New Britain High School.

Since coming to Watertown, Mr. Collins has stated that his "first few months have been great."

As a former principal, he believes a key as an administrator is to "respect the role of the principal" as the key administrator at each school.

"We need to support them and listen carefully to them," said Mr. Collins.

Mr. Collins also stressed how his current job has combined what was formerly several positions.

"We combined the director of curriculum and the director of special services, which were formerly two different positions," said Mr. Collins. "There is strength in that integration of services, as I can help provide quality instruction for all students."

The town saved $30,000 by combining several positions, according to Ms. Baldwin.