Windsor Locks Board of Education Appoints New Principal for South Elementary School

The Windsor Locks Board of Education Thursday appointed a principal from Seymour to head .

Monica Briggs, an Avon resident, was chosen from more than 50 applicants for the job, officials said.

“We’ve had a very exciting search for a new principal,” Board Chairwoman Patricia King said. “It was a very difficult process. We had excellent candidates.”

Briggs has been a principal and assistant principal in Seymour Public Schools. She has also been an assistant principal and language arts coordinator in Branford Public Schools; and worked in the Simsbury and Bristol school systems.

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 Superintendent of Schools Wayne Sweeney said 21 applicants were interviewed for the job, that was narrowed to seven people, then three finalists, and eventually two candidates from which to choose.

“It was the most difficult decision in my career,” Sweeney said.

During the search more than 50 people in the district and the community helped in the process, Sweeney said.

“We were lucky to have the two candidates we had,” Sweeney said.

Briggs said she is excited about her new job. She said the interview process was tough but great.

“Every person I’ve met in Windsor Locks has been wonderful, welcoming,” Briggs said.
“I’m thrilled, very thrilled to join the team.”

During her tenure as a principal of a school in Seymour, Briggs helped improve from not being able to make adequate yearly progress under the No Child Left Behind standards, Sweeney said.

Briggs said standardized test scores were not where they needed to be, and by using data to focus on helping the students the school was able to rebound in a year and half.

“We worked as a team and made sure that everything was aligned,” Briggs said.
Her experience in Seymour can be applied to South Elementary School, she said.

“There’s a lot of good things in place,” Briggs said.

Briggs will start on July 16 and will be paid about $124,000 annually. She succeeds James Moriarty, who is leaving for another job in another district, Sweeney said.