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Cindy C. Rigling will assume her duties on July 1. The 27-year educator currently serves as the founding principal of the Capitol Region Education Council International Magnet School for Global Citizenship in East Hartford.
Greenwich Superintendent William McKersie praised Rigling and said she will be a valuable addition to Hamilton Avenue School and the district.
"It is great news for Hamilton Avenue students, staff and families, and the entire district, that Ms. Rigling has accepted our offer to be the new Hamilton Avenue School principal," he said. "She is a highly successful educational leader, with a record of excellence, dedication, caring and compassion. Her appointment was unanimously supported by the HAS principal interview committee, and she has been widely lauded for her leadership in launching the International Magnet School in Greater Hartford."
Rigling said she was looking forward to the challenge.
"I believe wholeheartedly in the value of inquiry-based learning at the elementary level, and look forward to working with the school staff and families as we implement the STEM theme," she said.
Hamilton Avenue School teacher Kim Papa participated on the interview committee and also praised the choice.
“During the interview process, Ms. Ringling demonstrated outstanding knowledge of inquiry based instruction, which will be a tremendous asset as Hamilton Avenue moves to becoming a STEM school," she said. "Administrators, parents and teachers in Hartford all spoke of her commitment to creating a positive school community with a clear vision of raising student achievement. I am excited to have someone of her caliber come on board and welcome her to our community.”
Rigling began her career providing support programs and counseling services for children and families at the Klingberg Family Day Program in New Britain, (1988-1990), the Boys’ Village Family Services in Milford (1990-1992) and the Northwest Village School in Plainville,(1993-1998). From 1998 to 2001 she worked at the Thomaston Center School in Thomaston, first as a school counselor, then as a head teacher.
In 2001, Rigling took on her first administrator assignment as principal of the Webb School, an alternative K-8 school in Cheshire. She served as assistant principal/acting principal at Pearson Middle School in Winsted, from 2003 to 2005, and principal at the John J. Allison, Jr. CREC Polaris Center, an alternative middle/high school in East Hartford from 2005 to 2008.
In 2008, Rigling was chosen by CREC to create a new lottery-based elementary magnet school in the greater Hartford area. As founding principal of the International Magnet School for Global Citizenship, Rigling launched an award-winning inquiry-based program aimed at closing gaps in achievement between urban and suburban students.
Rigling received a bachelor of arts in psychology from State University Center at Binghamton in New York, a master of education in counseling and school psychology from Boston College, and a certificate of advanced graduate studies in educational leadership from Central Connecticut State University in New Britain.
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