Brookfield principal heads to Redding for new role
REDDING — Brookfield’s Huckleberry Hill Elementary School leader is taking on a new role in Redding.
Melissa Labrosciano, principal at Huckleberry, will take over as Redding Elementary School principal at the end of January to give both districts time to adjust to the transition.
The Redding Board of Education unanimously voted in favor of Labrosciano’s appointment during a special meeting Monday night, according to a news release from the district.
“We are excited to welcome Melissa to the RES community,” said Chris Parkin, Redding Board of Education chair. “Our school community has endured significant challenges over the course of the pandemic. I am confident that Melissa is the right person to lead RES at this critical juncture. She is an instructional leader who is dedicated to helping our students of all abilities excel.”
Former Redding Elementary principal Natalie Hammond resigned in August for a position in another district. She served as principal for four years, and her departure added further tumult to a difficult year for the Easton-Redding-Region 9 district.
Hammond’s departure ahead of the new school year prompted First Selectman Julia Pemberton to send a letter of reassurance to the community.
Labrosciano was selected from a poll of 30 applicants. The selection process included input from teachers, staff, parents, and administrators, including ER9’s new leader, Superintendent Jason McKinnon.
McKinnon called Labrosciano a “strong leader” with a “strong vision.” Labrosciano’s references had commented on her ability to develop relationships with families and students, as well as her “unwavering commitment” to the students under her care.
“Melissa is a seasoned professional who will no doubt bring us through these troubled times to a place where staff and students can thrive again,” he said.
Labrosciano received her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Manhattanville College, and did a sixth year in Educational Leadership at the University of Bridgeport.
Before arriving in Brookfield, she was a math specialist in Darien, and a fourth grade teacher and instructional specialist in Stamford.
Brookfield Board of Education chair Bob Belden said that he was not aware that Labrosciano would be leaving the district mid-year, but that they would miss her.
The elementary school will begin transitioning to the new Candlewood Lake Elementary School in 2023, and the board will have to find a replacement to oversee Huckleberry Hill through the move.
“We will do what we need to do to fill those shoes,” he said. “Melissa has been a real asset to Brookfield, and we wish her well.”