Superintendent of School Dr. Jill Gildea has announced the appointment of Ms. Safiya Key as the Assistant Principal for Riverside School, effective immediately. Key has been serving in the position as an interim appointment since Sept. 18. An educator for twelve years, she has been with the Greenwich Public Schools since 2010 serving as an instructional coach and team leader for the preschool program, and as an interim assistant principal in three of the District’s elementary schools. Key said “In the short time that I have been at Riverside School, I have been fortunate to be fully included in a community that is involved and action based, an environment and pace for which I thrive. I look forward to working in partnership with Mr. Weiss and the exceptional teachers, students, and parents to integrate a growth mindset into daily practice across academics, social emotional wellness, and daily operations.”
Riverside School Principal Christopher Weiss, said, “I am thrilled to welcome Ms. Key as our permanent assistant principal. As our interim assistant principal, she has been a natural fit for Riverside School with her professional, thoughtful, and encouraging interactions with parents, students, and staff members. Her expertise in special education, speech and language, child development, social emotional learning, instructional coaching and building leadership will be of great benefit to the Riverside School community. Ms. Key has jumped right into the work with enthusiasm, collaboration, and a listening approach. We look forward to our partnership with Ms. Key, building on the strong tradition of excellence and innovation at Riverside School for many years into the future.”
Administrative candidates are selected after a comprehensive search and appointment process, which includes widespread recruitment efforts, multiple interviews, and extensive reference and background checks.
Bio Brief: Safiya Key
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.
