West Hartford’s Superintendent of Schools said Friday that Kelly Sousa Purcell has been appointed principal of Whiting Lane Elementary School.

By Ronni Newton

West Hartford Superintendent of Schools Paul Vicinus announced Friday that the interim tag has been removed, and Kelly Sousa Purcell has officially been appointed to the role of principal at Whiting Lane Elementary School on a permanent basis.

In a letter to the Whiting Lane community on Friday afternoon, Vicinus mentioned the just-ended spring break and the arrival of warmer weather, noting that in the spirit of the “season of renewal and new beginnings,” he was thrilled to announce that Sousa Purcell will be the school’s principal on a permanent basis.

“As you may recall, Kelly was appointed interim principal this past summer. At that time, I expressed my full confidence in her vision, communication skills, and deep care and compassion,” Vicinus said in his letter. “Over the course of this school year – and through a rigorous selection process – Kelly has continued to distinguish herself among a highly competitive field of educational leaders who aspire to join the West Hartford community.”

Sousa Purcell is a native of West Hartford, and a Whiting Lane parent. She joined West Hartford Public Schools as a middle school literacy coach in 2016, and was assistant principal at King Philip Middle School prior to taking over at Whiting Lane when former principal, Karen Kukish, was named principal at Sedgwick Middle School.

Sousa Purcell – who has a bachelor’s in elementary education from the University of Hartford, an MS in educational leadership with a concentration in curriculum from Central Connecticut State University, and a sixth year certificate in reading and language arts as well as an administrative certification from Sacred Heart University – began her career in education as an elementary school classroom teacher at the Noah Webster MicroSociety Magnet in Hartford.

“Her steadfast belief in the talents of our staff and in the boundless potential of every child will continue to elevate the Whiting Lane community to even greater heights,” Vicinus said Friday.

As interim principal at Whiting Lane Elementary School, Kelly Sousa Purcell greets families on the first day of West Hartford Public Schools. Aug. 28, 2024. Photo credit: Ronni Newton (we-ha.com file photo)

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