The Weekly Update #4
August 11th, 2026
I would like to take a moment to introduce myself. My name is Patrick Peters, and I am honored to serve as the new principal at The Wilder School. Over my 15 years in education, I have had the privilege of working as a third-grade teacher, an instructional coach, an interim principal, and now, principal here at Wilder.
Throughout my career, my driving passion has always been doing what is best for students, ensuring they feel successful academically, socially, emotionally, and in their future career readiness. As educators, our primary mission is to support students to the very best of our ability so they can thrive.
One thing I can say with total confidence is that every member of our team is deeply dedicated to this mission. When I first visited in the spring, I was struck by how our staff interacted with every student, always leading with care, respect, and unconditional support. There is truly something special that happens when you walk through the doors of our school.
We recently wrapped up our four-week Extended School Year (ESY) program for both our Autism and Alternative Programs. Throughout July, our students engaged in rich learning activities and daily community outings. Highlights included hiking, visiting Moonrise Therapeutic Recreation and Billings Farm, taking an Amtrak train ride, exploring local lakes, and swimming at the Hartford Community Pool. It was wonderful to see our students leave each day with big smiles, many having experienced brand-new adventures like riding a train or meeting horses for the first time!
Thank you for placing your trust in us and allowing us to be part of your students' learning journeys. I look forward to collaborating closely with you this school year as we continue supporting our shared students. I invite you to visit us in person to see our learning community in action. If you would ever like to schedule a tour or a call, please feel free to reach out to me directly via email.
Warm regards,
Patrick Peters, Ed.D.
Principal, The Wilder School
