New Pine Grove Administrators: School Safety is a 'Top Priority.'

Besides the transition that comes with starting a new job, Pine Grove School's new principal and assistant principal are focused on keeping students and staff safe another school year begins. 

"Safety is really the top priority," said Ryan Roberts-Walstrom, of West Hartford, who is taking Jess Giannini's place as assistant principal now that Giannini has been promoted to the principalship. 

New locks, door alarms and a security camera have been installed at the school. All visitors now have be buzzed in by a staff member and sign in at the main office.

As Giannini, also a West Hartford resident, starts his first year as principal, his goal is to have a "safe school with a comfortable climate for all our students."

The renowned "warm climate" at Pine Grove School and esteemed reputation of Avon Public Schools is what drew Ryan Roberts-Walstrom to the district after shadowing former principal Gail Dahling-Hench for his administrative internship. Dahling-Hench left to become assistant superintendent in Madison.

While being an intern and assistant principal are different, Roberts-Walstrom said it's "great to see familiar faces."

Roberts-Walstrom, who asked students on the first day to call him Mr. RW for short, was most recently a reading consultant at Naubuc School in Glastonbury and also used to teach special education for second and fifth grade at Duffy Elementary School in West Hartford. 

He got his leadership degree through UConn's Administrator Preparation Program (UCAPP), earned his master's degree in remedial reading and language arts at Central Connecticut State University and went to Juniata College in his home state of Pennsylvania as an undergrad.  

Before Giannini was administrator, he was a teacher at Pine Grove. After teaching for 10 years, he was promoted to assistant principal in September 2011. 

Now Giannini's adjusting to his new role as principal.

"It's probably a blend of what's familiar and some new experiences, as well," Giannini said. "New is probably the key word."

He is focused on providing a smooth transition to the new school year as he takes the helm. 

There are many new things happening at Pine Grove this year. The elementary has new language arts and math curriculums designed for district educators to align with the state of Connecticut's new common core standards.

Most kindergarteners are full-day students now. A full-time world language teacher was hired to teach Spanish to grades K-4 for 30 minutes twice a week. Both programs were added as part of the adopted 2013-14 budget.

The district now offers Spanish kindergarten through sixth grade. 

"I think it's a great opportunity for our students," Giannini said. 

Giannini is one of three new principals in the district. Michael Renkawitz is replacing Anne Watson at Thompson Brook School and Christopher Tranberg is Avon High School's new principal.