ENFIELD, CT – The Enfield Board of Education recruited Kathleen Flanaghan to be the new principal at the Eli Whitney Elementary School.

Flanaghan was not new to Eli Whitney, she had been their academic coach for five years focusing on instructional needs and support for teachers and students.

“I’m excited to return back,” she said. “I want to be able to build a team that is cohesive, welcoming and inclusive of our very diverse community.”

As an active member in the Enfield Public School district, Flanaghan was a fourth-grade teacher at Prudence Crandall, an assistant principal/classroom teacher at Henry Barnard Elementary School and an academic coach at Hazardville Memorial.

She served over 10 years as a State of Connecticut TEAM mentor and cooperating teacher for new teacher candidates, as well as a District Liaison-Choice Summer Program academic coach and curriculum developer for the Capitol Region Educational Council.

Flanaghan started as a volunteer mom in the 1990s. With her children in the Enfield school system, she was encouraged to begin working with them as a parent educator. Although she had her own business at the time, Flanaghan geared towards going back to school to become a teacher.

She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in elementary education and a Master of Education degree in special education from American International College,   an Associate in Liberal Arts degree from Asnuntuck Community College, a sixth-year certificate in educational leadership from Central Connecticut State University and an advanced certificate in social-emotional-learning from the University of Colorado.

With a collaborative leadership style, Flanaghan noted she is a principal that likes to build upon the strength of teachers, bringing in the voice of staff and community members and to include Parent Teacher Organization, Board of Ed and student body when appropriate.

Flanaghan adds, “When we have a diverse voice, we’re really able to target more consistent needs and address any ideas and concerns that are going to benefit our community.”

She continued, “We have a strong staff here at Eli Whitney and because we have had a bit of turnover in the school due to various reasons, we need to build that cohesive community and bring everybody back into the fold.”

COVID-19 has put them in a position with distance learning, not having the ability to work with parents and teachers directly as they move forward with new technologies provided by the district to each student. Flanaghan said, “We have to help and listen to parents’ needs as they drive new resources and technologies. Having additional remote learning, but that will be driven by our numbers with COVID.”

Their plans for re-opening are not set in stone yet. They are directed by the district and the state at this time. However, planning continues. Many administrators and teachers have been engaged in their own online professional distance learning opportunities, (included, but not limited to their curriculum providers CCSDE and SERC learning opportunities) bringing those resources and ideas back to school in the fall. The staff is cleaning the building and making it ready so it is inviting and safe for the community. As that information rolls out it will all be determined by the state guidelines and that’s how Eli Whitney Elementary will follow.

In the meantime, Flanaghan is looking ahead to the future using technology on a daily basis within the classrooms which she mentions is a terrific opportunity for them.

“I think I’m in a pretty good position right now,” Flanaghan replied. “Most of these students I’ve worked with already. Reuniting our community is our greatest need and having a safe and united front, so that we’ll able to address any of the upcoming challenges no matter what they may be to work together. As long as we’re open and honest with each other and we’re all willing to listen, we can get through this.”

She concluded, “We are working hard to prepare a secure and nurturing environment for everyone. So hopefully we are back in school full-time planned by our governor and superintendent. We want to make sure that everyone is feeling welcomed and safe. That’s what we're working at.”