BRIDGEPORT—Dr. Gail Kingston has been named Principal of the new Catholic elementary school in Shelton that will incorporate students from St. Lawrence and St Joseph in Shelton and St. Jude in Monroe in the Fall of 2017. The announcement was made by Bishop Frank J. Caggiano and Dr. Steven Cheeseman, Superintendent of Catholic Schools of the Diocese of Bridgeport.
“We are fortunate to have Dr. Kingston in a leadership position as we move forward to unify the three school communities into a vibrant new Catholic school,” said Dr. Cheeseman.
“She brings more than 26 years of experience in school administration including 16 years as a principal to this new post. Her work as an educator has been distinguished by development of innovative and inclusive curriculum and differentiated instruction.”
Dr. Kingston first joined the Diocese in 2016, when she was named principal of St. Lawrence School in Shelton. Prior to that appointment she served as Principal of St. Gabriel School in Milford for 15 years.
Dr. Kingston holds her Bachelor’s and Masters’ degrees in Education from Connecticut College, Certificate in Administration from Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, and her Doctorate in Educational Leadership from Nova Southeastern University in Florida.
Among her numerous awards and achievements are service as Chairperson of the New England Association of Schools and Colleges Accreditation Visiting Team. She was the recipient of the State of Connecticut General Assembly Citation in 2011 and was awarded the Connecticut Center for Child Development Autism Advocacy Award.
In the past she has served as principal of the Little White Schoolhouse in Mystic, CT, serving students with cerebral palsy; and the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal School in North Stonington, CT.
Born in Nyack, N.Y., she was raised in Pennsylvania, then moved to Connecticut 33 years ago due to her husband Dewey’s career in the U.S. Navy Submarine Force. Their home parish is St. Mary’s in Groton; they have four grown children.
The new school will be located in the present St. Lawrence School, 503 Shelton Avenue, which will be renamed to reflect the combined schools.
Parents from the three schools received a letter yesterday from Dr. Cheeseman, announcing the appointment. In the letter, Dr. Cheeseman also announced that “no consensus was reached” in the naming of the new school and asked parents to participate in a follow-up survey.
For more information visit www.ournewschool2017.org.