Schools
Tolland Assistant Principal Takes Job in Willington
Tolland Intermediate School assistant principal Philip Stevens has started a new chapter as the principal of Center Elementary School in Willington.
Tolland schools are jumping back into another school year, but returning students at Tolland Intermediate School won’t see at least one familiar face.
Former assistant principal Philip Stevens has left the Tolland school district to take a position as the principal of Center Elementary School in Willington.
As excited as Tolland’s school staff is for Stevens' new opportunity, TIS principal James Dineen said that the school will certainly miss Stevens’ presence.
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“Phil Stevens made an indelible mark on Tolland Intermediate School,” Dineen said in an email. “Even though Phil’s door was always open, he was rarely sitting in his office; he was everywhere at once: classrooms, hallways, recess and the lunchroom. While we are thrilled for him, we are deeply saddened to see him go.”
For Stevens, the bittersweet feeling is mutual.
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“The staff at the intermediate school is fantastic,” Stevens said. “I’m going to miss them. Tolland is a hard place to leave.”
Stevens went on to explain that Willington was just about the only school district that could pull him away from Tolland, due to his prior history in the school system. He spent eight years as a physical education teacher at Center Elementary, before leaving to spend three years at Tolland as an assistant principal.
One of the perks of Stevens’ time in Willington is his familiarity with many of the staff members.
“I’m coming back to a staff that I know,” he said. “Not having to form new relationships coming into a building makes your life a lot easier.”
Despite his connections, however, Stevens said that there are still some differences that he has to adjust to.
“It’s funny coming from a school with 700 kids in Tolland. We’re looking at a school with 200 [in Willington].”
He said that the drop in numbers was most apparent when he read a book during a school assembly.
“We fit the whole school in a room, “ Stevens said. “That’s hard to do in Tolland.”
His fans in the Tolland school system, however, are sure that Stevens will be able to adjust to any and all changes as he takes on his new role in Willington.
“He was an excellent assistant principal,” said Superintendent William Guzman. “I wish him a lot of success out there.”
