Hamden Middle School Has New Assistant Principal

For the past 11 years, Jessica Coffey has been behind the teacher's desk at Ridge Hill School, but come September she'll have new digs -- in the administrative offices at Hamden Middle School.

On Tuesday the Board of Education appointed Coffey assistant principal at the middle school, replacing Dan Levy, who last month was named the school's new principal, replacing Jim O'Connor, who moved up to a new job at Central Office.

"She has done outstanding work at Ridge Hill School and I feel she is more than ready to become the assistant principal at Hamden Middle School," Supt. of Schools Fran Rabinowitz said. 

There were 16 candidates up for the job, and Coffey, who taught second grade at Ridge Hill, stood out from that pack, Levy said. 

"She is enthusiastic and well respected among her peers and the leadership," he said. "I'm very much looking forward to having her on board."

"She is a highly respected member of the Ridge Hill team," board member Adam Sendroff said, "and I know there are many there who are sorry to see her go."

Coffey recently graduated from the Hamden Leadership Academy, a district initiative that helps prepare educators for administrative positions. She said that experience prepared her well for her next assignment.

"I loved it," she said. "I thought it was a very beneficial experience and I think it did a great job preparing me."

Four years ago she earned the advanced administrative degree necessary to become an administrator in Connecticut, and since then was waiting for the right position to open. The Hamden Middle School assistant principal spot fit that bill, she said.

"I was waiting for the right opportunity," she said, "and this seemed like a great opportunity."

"She has a passion for learning," board member Michael Dolan said, "as well as a no-nonsense approach to learning -- we are very excited to have her."