Andrea Brinnel

Faculty Teaching

Dr. Brinnel is on the faculty of The University of Connecticut Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities and is an adjunct faculty member at Bay Path University and The University of Hartford teaching and designing online graduate and undergraduate special education, early childhood, and education leadership courses. She retired in 2021 from her role as Preschool Special Education Coordinator and special education consultant for charter and magnet schools at the Connecticut State Department of Education. She also managed CT’s preschool grant programs, School Readiness and Smart Start at the Connecticut Office of Early Childhood prior to her position as CT’s Preschool Special Education Coordinator.

Andrea has over thirty years of experience in education and has been a classroom teacher and central office administrator in both Connecticut and Massachusetts. Her work in the fields of early childhood and special education has emphasized the meaningful inclusion of children with special education needs in general education settings, the importance of building a quality continuum of services from birth through grade 3, and the need for building and district level leaders having strong knowledge and skills in special education and early childhood.

Andrea has presented on early learning issues at both the 3rd and 4th annual International Educational Symposia in the United Arab Emirates and national webinars about PreK to grade 3 leadership, as well as many state special education and early learning topics both virtually and throughout CT.