New Keigwin Principal Calls 6th Grade 'Magical Year'

Dr. Silvia Mayo Molina, who considers sixth-grade "a magical year," will take over as principal of at the end of August, the Middletown Board of Education has announced.

"I am honored to be selected to lead Keigwin School," Molina said. "All fifth-graders are preparing for their first year away from their elementary schools — hoping to be with old friends while they make new friends from other Middletown neighborhoods."

Molina said she is eager to meet her new charges.

"I am feeling the same eagerness of what's to come and can't wait to see their bright smiles and curious minds on Aug. 27. I know that at Keigwin, we will lead their academic growth to higher levels of achievement and support their confidence and independence as they prepare for seventh and eighth grade. It is going to be an exciting school year for all of us!"

Tracey S. Koff, principal of Keigwin for the last eight years, retired in June. Molina's hiring fills the last open principal position in city schools in a district that is welcoming many new faces of academic leadership.

The Board of Ed appointed Richard Henderson principal of Farm Hill Elementary School on June 27; on June 26, Joseph A. Cassella was named principal of Woodrow Wilson Middle School; and on June 19, was named Middletown's new superintendent of schools.

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Molina has been an assistant principal at both DiLoreto Dual Language Magnet School and Pulaski middle schools in New Britain. Prior to her assistant principalships, she was a dual language immersion classroom teacher, pre-kindergarten through eighth grade. Molina began her career as a bilingual elementary teacher in the TEACH FOR AMERICA program in Oakland, Calif. She was also a community organizer for Citizens for Action in New Britain.

Molina received an undergraduate degree from in Middletown in Latin American Studies in 1991. She received educational certification from California State University in 1993, a masters in science degree from UConn, Storrs, in 2000 and in 2010, a doctoral degree in educational leadership from CCSU in New Britain.

Board of Education Chair Gene Nocera said, "Dr. Molina comes with the highest recommendations possible. We are very fortunate to hire a candidate with her experience and credentials. We look forward to her instructional and school leadership as she reacquaints herself in our community that once was her home.”