Phillip Penn, Chief Financial Officer

(860) 695-8000
Phillip.Penn@hartfordschools.org 

Phillip J. Penn is experienced financial executive with a demonstrated track record of strategic thinking and operational execution. As Chief Financial Officer of the Hartford Public Schools, Mr. Penn and his team oversee the largest public-school budget in the State of Connecticut, helping ensure an equitable allocation of resources that enables strong academic outcomes for all learners.

Prior to joining the Hartford Public Schools, Mr. Penn served as the Chief Financial Officer for the New Haven Public Schools. During his tenure in New Haven, Mr. Penn helped the District eliminate a projected deficit of more than $9 million for the 2019-20 year and was part of the senior leadership team helped execute the District’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Prior to his role in New Haven, Mr. Penn was the Finance Officer and Treasurer of the town of Canton, Connecticut, where he oversaw the transition of the town and Canton Board of Education to a combined finance department.

Mr. Penn has held a variety of senior executive financial roles in his 30-year career, including Chief Financial Officer of the claims area of The Hartford and the Director of Investor Relations at Barnes Group Inc. For approximately five years Mr. Penn was also an entrepreneur and small business owner, operating a chain of 12 independent coffee shops located in Montana and Connecticut. His first experience in municipal government came in 2015 when he was appointed Business Manager for the Plymouth Public Schools. Mr. Penn has also been a strong advocate for public education in his personal life, serving for 11 years on the Regional School District #10 Board of Education, including eight years as a BOE officer and two years as the BOE Chairman. He also serves as a liaison to the Board of Directors for the Connecticut Association of School Business Officials (CASBO).

Education

• B.S. in Business Management and Finance from Cornell University
• Master of Business Administration from Southern New Hampshire University, where he received an Outstanding Student award and was inducted into the Delta Mu Delta National Business Honor Society
• School Business Official (085) administrator certification from the Connecticut State Department of Education