Ridgefield Hires New Assistant Principal for Barlow Mountain Elementary

Ridgefield Public Schools announced today the appointment of Caitlin Walsh as the new Barlow Mountain Elementary Assistant Principal. A graduate of Boston College with advanced degrees from Sacred Heart and Southern, Ms. Walsh has been in education since 2002. She started as an elementary classroom teacher in both public and private schools in Monroe and Westport, Connecticut, and most recently, has been a math coach for the Westport Public Schools. As a Westport elementary district leader, she became co-principal of their summer program, led district-wide professional development, and wore many hats to serve Westport students.

Ms. Walsh writes, “I am honored to join the staff, students and families at Barlow Mountain Elementary School and am eager to immerse myself in the greater Ridgefield community. Throughout my twenty years in education, I’ve committed to building strong relationships with families and colleagues, and I look forward to continuing that work at BMES. Together with Principal Becky Laus and the rest of the dedicated staff, I look forward to cultivating a community where every student feels valued, supported, and inspired to reach their full potential.”

“Approachable,” “responsive,” and “invaluable” are adjectives that Westport Principal Tracey Carbone used to describe Walsh in her letter of reference. Carbone writes, “She is a dedicated professional who has students’ best interests at the heart of her work.”

Monroe Principal Leigh Metcalf Ances also praises Ms. Walsh, writing, “She is one of the best educators I know...The quality of her work is exceptional, and I can’t think of a more passionate, intelligent, effective, or knowledgeable candidate.”

The full-time Assistant Principal at Barlow Mountain Elementary is a new position as Christina Salvestrini, who split her time as Pre-K and Barlow Mountain Assistant Principal, will become the full-time Pre-K Supervisor.

Barlow Mountain Principal Laus writes, “We look forward to welcoming Caitlin into our Bobcat community.” She will start on July 1.