West Hartford Superintendent of Schools Tom Moore announced several elementary school principal changes at Tuesday’s Board of Education meeting.

Kristi Laverty has officially been named principal of Duffy Elementary School. Photo credit: Ronni Newton (file photo)

By Ronni Newton

Superintendent of Schools Tom Moore told the Board of Education Tuesday night that the “interim” tag has been removed and Kristi Laverty has been officially named Duffy’s principal.

Moore said that he informed an enthusiastic Duffy staff Tuesday that Laverty is now the “buck-stops-with-her” principal. The former West Hartford and state teacher of the year “has just brought a community feel that Duffy has deserved and a real hope to teachers, to students, to parents,” Moore said.

“With the outpouring of support [for Laverty], it was more of a threat if we picked someone else,” Moore said.

Duffy has undergone several administrative changes in the past few years. Board member Jay Sarzen, who is a Duffy parent, commended Moore’s action, and said that Laverty “has blown the clouds away.”

Moore also said Tuesday that Aiken Principal Kathy McKay has announced plans to retire at the end of the school year.

Moore said that McKay, whom he considers a friend, will be a significant loss to the district and very difficult to replace.

The administration has already started the search process for a new principal and is meeting with stakeholders.

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