District Welcomes New Special Education Director
ROCKY HILL - A Director of Special Education and Pupil Services and 10 year Rocky Hill Public Schools said her goodbyes to Board of Education members and colleagues on May 18-the same night the Board voted unanimously to approve the person who will fill her shoes.

       Dr. Cathy Riggs, who came to Rocky Hill in 2007, got a warm send off from Superintendent Mark Zito, Board Chair Frank Morse, and Special Education Department Supervisor Joan Gilbert, right after Amy Stevenson-a former Director of Pupil Services in Stafford-was welcomed to the role.

       â€"She has maintained an unwavering desire to help each child maximize his or her potential,” Zito said. â€"She’s been on top of all the emerging trends in terms of training staff and behavior. Our administrative team and the diverse team she supervises have all benefitted from having her.”

       Riggs has also served as a special education consultant, as well as a faculty member of both Bay Path and St. Joseph Colleges.

       â€"Dr. Riggs has been a tireless advocate for children,” Gilbert said. â€"Her priority is always to serve their best interest academically socially and emotionally. She really cares about all students, regardless of their ability or what school they attend. We’ve been lucky to have her at the helm the past 10 years.”

       And in her own statement, Riggs let the room in on another secret: she attended Center School here in town as a first grader.

       â€"I have a long history in the town unknown to many of you, because it’s one of many things I keep under my hat,” she said.

       Stevenson’s own history in education has some longevity as well-she’s starting the next chapter of a 22 year career within which she’s worked with a diverse range of age groups.

       â€"I’ve worked with kids from babies all the way up through high school,” Stevenson said. â€"I’ve had great experiences with kids. I love working with children and their families.”

       She’s spent the past 7 years in Stafford.

       â€"Although the past 7 years have been wonderful, I was looking for a little bigger district,” she said. â€"This looks like a great town, and as I looked into your district I just thought I’d love to be here. I’m very excited to be here tonight.”

       Stevenson was one of 25 applicants vying for the position. The Board interviewed 12, with deliberations regarding the three finalists stretching through the night prior to the May 18 meeting.

       â€"We had a very rigorous process in terms of hiring-it’s a very important position,” Zito said.

       â€"The last question I asked is what would I tell the public is the reason I hired you? And she said, I’m going to advocate for all the children in RH,” Morse said. â€"Right there-that’s what got me.”

      

      

      

      

      

      

      

      
STORY BY MARK DIPAOLA   |  Jun 02 2017  |  COMMENTS?