Riverside School Assistant Principal Marianne McCullough has announced her plans to retire after an extended leave for personal reasons, effective Tuesday, Sept. 5. McCullough has been with the Greenwich Public Schools since 2005, serving as Assistant Principal at North Mianus and Glenville Schools, before moving to Riverside School in 2009. McCullough said, “It has been an honor and a privilege to work with the wonderful students of Greenwich and their families! I have been extremely fortunate to have collaborated with and learned from talented GPS educators as well. I have appreciated my time in Greenwich and leave to watch the exciting world of personalized learning unfold from a different vantage point!”
Riverside School Principal Christopher Weiss said, “Throughout Ms. McCullough’s eight years as Assistant Principal at Riverside School, she consistently demonstrated a strong commitment to the well being of each student’s academic, social, and emotional learning success and development. Her expertise in literacy, special education, and social emotional support greatly benefited our learning community. We are very thankful to her for her commitment and dedication to the Greenwich Public Schools and wish her the very best in her retirement.”
McCullough was instrumental in her support with launching the District’s Digital Learning Environment at Riverside School; one of the first schools in the District to launch this transformative initiative. She has led a highly effective, data-driven, student assistance team (SAT) model of intervention for students who struggle in their academic or social-emotional development. As a dedicated member of the District’s Safe School Climate and Director’s Advisory Committees, she has built a strong and efficient Special Education and Support Services team for the students and families of Riverside and led the school’s Social-Emotional Learning Committee.
Weiss continued, “Ms. McCullough’s deep commitment to our school’s social-emotional learning programs and our Grade 5 Riverside Rangers leadership and service program, has provided strong leadership and support to our school community.”
A search for an Assistant Principal for Riverside School will begin immediately. Ms. Safiya Key will serve as Interim Assistant Principal for Riverside School, effective September 18, after completing a brief interim assistant principal appointment at Julian Curtiss School.
Bio Brief: Marianne McCullough
McCullough began teaching at The Mead School in Greenwich, CT as a math teacher for grades 1-5 in 1982. A year later she moved to Los Angeles, CA and taught grades 1 and 3 as well as a grade 3-4 gifted program at Menlo Avenue School (1983-1985). Returning to the East coast in 1985, she worked for the Stamford Public Schools from 1985-1998 as a primary grade teacher and reading consultant. In June 1998, she became an instructional coordinator for the Hillandale Program and shortly thereafter, in November 1998, she accepted the position of Program Improvement Planner for the Newfield School. In 2005, McCullough came to the Greenwich Public Schools as Assistant Principal for North Mianus School, transferring to Glenville School in 2007 and to Riverside School in 2009, where she worked with the Principal to lead the staff in the transition to a digital learning environment as a Phase I school.
McCullough received a bachelor of science degree with a major in elementary education from the University of Connecticut, Storrs in 1980; a master of science degree with a major in reading from Southern Connecticut State University, New Haven in 1987; and a sixth year certificate in administration from the University of Bridgeport, Stamford in 2004.
Bio Brief: Safiya Key
Ms. Key began working in the Norwalk Public Schools as a speech-language pathologist in 2005. She came to the Greenwich Public Schools in 2010, supporting the preschool program as a speech-language pathologist and as an instructional coach for the District and community. She has served in interim leadership capacities at both Glenville School and Julian Curtiss School. Key also maintains a private practice, providing speech and language therapy and related services to individuals and their families.
Key received a bachelor of science degree in communication and psychology from Syracuse University, Syracuse, N.Y. in 1999; a master of science degree in communication from Southern Connecticut State University, New Haven in 2005, and completed the educational and administration certification program at the University of Bridgeport, Bridgeport in 2016.
