Superintendent on a meeting mission

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Sharon Locke.
Sharon Locke

NAUGATUCK — The borough’s new superintendent of schools is on a mission to meet as many people as possible over the next month.

Sharon Locke, who began in the district on July 1, has been meeting with a variety of people in the community since that day, including parents, educators and municipal leaders. Those who have not gotten an opportunity to meet her and discuss the school district will have three chances in August.

Locke will hold meet-and-greet sessions from 6 to 7 p.m. on the Green on Tuesday, Aug. 5 before the concert on the Green. She will also be on the Green from 7 to 8 p.m. before Movie Night on the Green. And there will be a school staff reception on Aug. 28, details to follow.

“I want to get to know people, let them get to know me and to find out what their hopes and dreams for our school district are,” she said.

Locke, 47, comes to Naugatuck from New Britain, where she served as assistant superintendent of public schools. Naugatuck Board of Education members said she came highly recommended by the school district in New Britain, where they say she formed close working relationships with many in the district. Locke hopes to build the same type of relationships in Naugatuck.

Last week, Locke met with Parent School Council members to discuss how they would work together. PSC board member Jennifer Stone said Locke and PSC members agreed that they want to see PSC meetings become more meaningful. Specifically, Stone said, Locke would like to use the group as an advisory board to work on the district-wide strategic plan for education.

Stone said she was impressed that Locke is trying to reach out to people by various means, including on social media. The district now has a Facebook page and will have a Twitter handle, as well. Locke said she may start a blog, too.

“She is trying to get people to work with her and develop some great things for the community,” said Stone, a physical education teacher in Waterbury. “She has a tall task in front of her, but as a parent I’m excited about her and think she will do well here.”