Schools

Bennett: Decision to Leave West Hill School was 'Heart-Breaking'

Outgoing principal said she made it a point to learn every student's name.

Megan Bennett  , but it is not without a heavy heart.

On Thursday, the Southington Board of Education unanimously appointed Megan L. Bennett as the new principal at . She leaves West Hill Elementary School after only one year.

"This has been heart-breaking," she said about the decision to leave West Hill School. "My intention was to stay and so, there is a part of me that feels like I failed because I couldn't make the balance happen."

Find out what's happening in Rocky Hillwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Bennett has two young girls, ages three and six, and lives in Burlington. The commute to Rocky Hill was becoming difficult for her. She would often spend the whole ride thinking about her family.

"This became my family (West Hill staff, teachers and students), but it could not overshadow my family at home," she said. By accepting the position in Southington, Bennett will cut her commute in half.

Find out what's happening in Rocky Hillwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Bennett said her coworkers at West Hill School are all "hard-working" and "dedicated" people who created atmosphere that made her job easier.

Let Patch save you time. Get great local stories like this delivered right to your inbox or smartphone every day with our free newsletter. Simple, fast sign-up here.

"This was a dream school," Bennett said. "I just couldn't make it work."

Bennett, who was born and raised in Rocky Hill, was named the . She was previously the principal at E.H. Bennett Elementary School and an elementary math coordinator in Taunton, MA. Before leaving for Massachusetts, Bennett was also a K-12 math coordinator and an elementary school teacher in Hartford.

Bennett's last day at West Hill School will be June 30 and her first day at Thalberg Elementary School will be July 1.

 "Every day was a pleasure," Bennett said.

She said that Thalberg Elementary School is "little different" from West Hill, however, it is a "high achieving school" and supports the "team spirit" concept.

One of the accomplishments that Bennett is most proud of is her ability to learn the names of all 650 kids at West Hill School. Each day, she would greet the students at the bus stop and periodically, they would quiz her.

"That was important to me," Bennett said. "If I just saw their faces, I knew their names and would say hey in the hallways. And I think it made them feel welcome."


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here