East Granby Middle School Bids Farewell to Principal Russo

Dr. Thomas Russo has decided to retire after serving five years as the interim principal for East Granby Middle School, effective at the end of the school year.

At a reception celebrating Russo’s retirement at the middle/high school building on Tuesday evening, Superintendent of Schools Dr. Christine Mahoney expressed her gratitude for having Russo work in the East Granby school district.

“We are extremely grateful to him for everything he has done since he has been here,” Mahoney said. “We wish him well as he tries to retire.”

Russo, who served as a principal in the Glastonbury public school district for 17 years before being hired as interim middle school principal in East Granby in 2007, said that he was somewhat reluctant to step down.

“I had the best time of my life here,” he said. “It’s the sense of family you get here. The teachers all work as a team. You don’t see that in larger school school systems. This is much more personal. … I get to know the kids by their first name basis.

“I had a good time. I’m going to miss everybody.”

Russo said that his biggest accomplishment was working with Mahoney in bringing technology into the classrooms to help "prepare East Granby students for their lives when they embark on the larger world.”

Despite his retirement, Russo said that he will stay busy training school administrative interns through a program at Central Connecticut State University.

“I’ve been doing that for 15 years,” he said.

Mahoney said that no decision had been made yet to hire a new principal at the middle school.