West Hartford Superintendent of Schools Paul Vicinus has announced Susan Horvath as the incoming principal of Bugbee Elementary School.

By Ronni Newton

West Hartford Superintendent of Schools Paul Vicinus announced Thursday that Susan Horvath has been named the principal of Bugbee Elementary School effective July 1, 2024, taking over the position being vacated by Kelly Brouse, who has been named assistant director of Pupil Services for the district.

In a letter to the Bugbee community on Thursday, which was the last day of school, Vicinus, said, “it is a time of celebration and gratitude for the many amazing accomplishments and milestones seen throughout the year. In that spirit, I would like to acknowledge and share my deepest thanks to Mrs. Kelly Brouse for her incredibly dedicated and passionate leadership of Bugbee School since 2016. Under her leadership, Bugbee saw record achievement in literacy and mathematics, systemic improvements to intervention and specialized instructional programming, but most importantly, it saw children thrive in an engaging, happy and healthy learning environment where all children feel a sense of belonging.”

Brouse, he said, leaves a “legacy of caring, an expectation for excellence, and a foundation of family and school collaboration.”

Horvath, who was chosen as Bugbee’s next principal following a comprehensive and competitive search process, will be leading the elementary school that she personally attended. She earned a bachelor’s degree in communications science from the University of Connecticut, and received her master’s in elementary education from Central Connecticut State University in 2009, where she also earned a 6th year degree in educational leadership in 2016.

She has been serving as interim principal of Roaring Brook Elementary School in Avon, and previously was an assistant principal there. Her experience also includes nine years with Ellington Public Schools as a fifth grade teacher and a lead teacher and numeracy specialist.

Vicinus praised Horvath’s “talent for instructional leadership and a skill at creating a welcoming environment in which families and community are viewed as true partners and assets in our shared work at educating children,” and said she leads with vision in a style that is “characterized by empathy, integrity, and a relentless pursuit of excellence. Susan’s approach is both strategic and compassionate, ensuring that every decision is made with the best interests of students and staff in mind. She inspires those around her to achieve their best and fosters a sense of community and shared purpose,” he wrote in his letter to the community.

In an email sharing the news of the appointment with Board of Education members, Vicinus said he is very pleased to welcome Horvath to the team, and added that “Susan brings an incredibly strong instructional lens, a collaborative spirit and a contagious energy and warmth.”

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