SOMERS — The Board of Education has unanimously approved the appointment of Melissa Mucci as assistant principal of Somers Elementary School.
Mucci is currently the special education supervisor for the East Hartford school system. Prior to working for East Hartford Public Schools, she worked for eight years as a special education teacher at Somers Elementary School. She also held the role of interim assistant principal and interim director of pupil services during her time there.
“We’re very thrilled to have her come back to the school district,” School Superintendent Brian Czapla said Tuesday.
The school board appointed her during its meeting on June 25.
Mucci earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology and English from Central Connecticut State University in 2000. She went on to get her master’s degree and teaching certification in special education from Southern Connecticut State University. She earned her Sixth-Year Certificate and Certificate of Graduate Study in Advanced Educational Leadership from the University of New England.
“She will be an incredible asset not only to the elementary school but to special education as well,” Czapla said.
Mucci will begin her new role on Aug. 13 and will earn a starting salary of $105,000.
She is filling the position previously held by Dina Senecal, who will take over as principal there in the coming school year. Senecal is taking the place of Jennifer Oliver, who retired at the end of the 2017-18 school year.
“I’m super excited,” she said. “Somers is the place I’ve always called home.”
Mucci was selected from a pool of over 70 applicants.
“She clearly stood out,” Czapla said.
Jackie Nappo 