Glenbrook has new assistant principal

Aug. 4, 2016 | Chris Goudreau
cgoudreau@thereminder.com

Bridget Dullea, a Longmeadow native, was hired as the new assistant principal at Glenbrook Middle School.
Reminder Publications photo by Chris Goudreau

LONGMEADOW – Glenbrook Middle School has a new assistant principal, Bridget Dullea, who previously served as the school’s guidance counselor during the past five years.  

Dullea told Reminder Publications she’s excited to continue working with students, parents, and teachers in her new role as assistant principal.

“Apart from my role as guidance counselor here, I’ve been involved in many aspects of the school,” she explained. “I’ve been a member of the child study team, which is a part of the special education evaluation process. I’ve been a part of the [response to intervention] team.”

She added she’s served as the American with Disabilities Act Section 504 Coordinator in the school for the past five years and has taught peer leadership as an elective course for eighth graders for the past three years.

Dullea said she served as interim assistant principal for three months while her predecessor Elizabeth Nelson, who now serves as principal of Wolf Swamp Road Elementary School, was on maternity leave.

“Beth’s shoes are certainly going to be difficult to fill, but I was fortunate to work with her the past few years, in which she provided much guidance and was really a mentor to me,” Dullea explained. “She has guided me in a way to show me what it takes to do this job and to do it well.”

She added serving as interim assistant principal gave her an “eye opening” experience into the job.

“It’s a dual position; assistant principal and special education supervisor,” Dullea said. “There are many responsibilities that I have to juggle on a daily basis regarding paperwork with the special education process, meeting with students in terms of discipline and behavior, getting into the classrooms to support teaching methods, and as well as working side by side with [Principal] Nikcole Allen to make decisions regarding important programs and policies within the school.”

Dullea said also attended Glenbrook when she was a student growing up in Longmeadow.

“I think my role as guidance counselor has definitely allowed me that opportunity to connect with students,” she explained. “I think I understand this town and this school and town very well having been a student here and I think what, for me, is special that I can give back all that I received – specifically at Glenbrook, but even in the Longmeadow Public Schools. I consider that a gift to come back and give back to a place that I really consider to be very unique.”

Cultivating a family culture has been important at the school under Allen’s leadership and Dullea said she plans to work alongside Allen to make sure that continues.

“It’s to build a family type environment for the students and teachers,” she explained. 

Dullea said she has a bachelor’s degree from Trinity College in Hartford, CT, a master’s degree from the University of Massachusetts Boston, and is licensed to serve in the assistant principal position.

She started her career in education in Dedham at the Noble and Greenough School where she worked as a teacher, in the administrative office, and as an assistant dean for ninth graders. After that, she took a position under a grant for a year at the Robert Doering School in Agawam before she became Glenbrook’s guidance counselor.

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