Fiona Cappabianca - Chairperson

Ms. Cappabianca serves on the Board of Directors for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation CT/Western Mass Chapter. She is currently Vice-President of the Chapter. She is also past President of the PTOC, which is a district-wide council of all PTO's in Torrington. She is Chair and Co-Chair to a couple of other organizations in the Litchfield area. She is currently employed at Pension Consultant, Inc. She resides in Torrington with her husband, Steven, and their three children, who all attend Torrington Public Schools.

Contact:[email protected]

John Kissko was born in Torrington and educated in the Torrington Public Schools. He earned BA and MA degrees from the University of Connecticut in Storrs and did further work at the University of Scranton and Southern Connecticut State University. He taught history and economics at Litchfield High School for 36 years and has also served on the adjunct faculties of the University of Connecticut and Naugatuck Valley Community College. He was first elected to the Board of Education in 2011. He is a widower with four sons, four daughters-in-law, seven grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. His great-grandson attends Vogel-Wetmore School. He is the current President of the Board of Directors of EdAdvance and serves on the Policy Council of the local Head Start / Early Head Start program. He enjoys reading, spending time with friends and family, and sometimes likes the peace and quiet of being left alone.

Contact: [email protected]

Ellen Hoehne - Secretary

Ms. Hoehne was elected to the Board in November, 2009 and re-elected on November, 2017.  She attended Torrington Public Elementary schools and Torrington High School and is currently employed as a Business Office Associate and Accounts Payable Specialist at Renbrook School in West Hartford. She and her husband, Michael, along with her two children and four grandchildren all reside in Torrington.

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Jessica Richardson

Jessica Richardson is a lifelong CT resident who has called Torrington home for over two decades. She has been appointed to the Torrington Board of Education twice, from December 2014 - November 2017 (spending two years as Vice Chair) and was reappointed to her current term in March 2018.  She has an extensive background in community volunteerism, is active in her church, and is employed by the Torrington Library in the role of Development Associate.  She is married to Patrick, and they have two children: one THS graduate and one who still attends Torrington Public Schools.  In her free time she enjoys reading, creative writing, and sitting on the sidelines of whatever sport her children are playing at the moment.

Contact: [email protected]

Mrs. Todor was appointed to the Torrington Board of Education in October 2018. After 36 years in education, she retired in June 2017 having served 16 years as the principal of Torringford School.  Prior to her tenure at Torringford, she was the principal of Ann Antolini School in New Hartford.  She began her career in Region 6 as a teacher of students with special needs.  She also taught  grades 1 and  2 in Litchfield, where she also served as Lead Teacher and Math Coordinator. 

After graduating from Torrington High School, Mrs. Todor received her A.S. degree in Human Services from Green Mountain College, and her Bachelor’s degree in Elementary/Special Education from Purdue University. After her children were born, she received her Master’s degree from CCSU and her 6^th year certificate in Administration and Supervision from SCSU.

Mrs. Todor and her husband, John have two grown children who attended East and Torrington Middle School.  They are graduates of Torrington High School.

In retirement, Mrs. Todor enjoys spending time with her three grandchildren, embracing the role of “Mimi.”  She serves on the Board of Managers and Child Care Committee at Maria Seymour Brooker Memorial.  She is active in her church community.  In her spare time, she enjoys camping, reading, and taking long rides in the country.

contact: [email protected]

Susan is a Torrington native who attended Torrington schools and raised her 4 children in Torrington.

Until her retirement in July, 2020 Susan was employed by The Hartford Financial Group for 33 years. During her tenure with The Hartford she held various roles including Asbestos & Environmental Account Manager; Operations Consultant; IT Business Analyst, Process Owner and Project Manager.

Susan serves as the Treasurer for the Torrington Woman’s Club and served on the Torrington Little League Board of Directors for 3 terms.

Contact: [email protected]

Mr. Putnam was appointed to the Torrington Board of Education in January 2023.  Jeff was born and raised in Torrington and is therefore a product of the Torrington Public schools.  After graduating from Torrington High School, he went on to complete 2 years at the now closed University of Connecticut Torrington branch and finished his bachelor's degree at Central Connecticut State University in 2001.

Jeff started his local business in his senior year at Torrington High in a cooperative work experience class.  26 years later Jeff continues to run this same business here in Torrington.   In 2010 he started a family of his own and has two school age children in the district. 

Jeff has been an active member of his children’s school PTO’s as well as a coach of several local sports teams over the years.  Most recently he coaches girls’ softball and flag football.

Jeff also helped organize the effort to get the new Torrington High/Middle school through referendum in 2020 and again in 2021.  Joining the board of education was the next logical step in continuing the work of ensuring the Torrington Public Schools are a positive experience for all students, families, and taxpayers.