Badgett named as new principal at New Haven School

STAFF REPORT

SHELLEY BADGETT

Monday, May 13, 2013 — The New Haven Site-Based Decision-Making Council gave its final approval Friday of Shelley Badgett as the new principal of the New Haven School.

Badgett comes to New Haven from Washington County where she has been a special education teacher since 2004 at North Washington Elementary School, and also served as the Early College High School Program Coordinator for the Washington County Board of Education. Like NHS, North Washington is a rural K-8 school.

“I’m very comfortable in that setting. I’m ready for this new journey, this new step,” Badgett said. “I had some great mentors.”

It is not just the relationship building aspects of the K-8 experience that is a draw for Badgett; it is also the fact that K-8 educators get to see growth in their students for a longer period of time, she said.

“You get to see growth and see student progress in another level – you get to see students shine as they get to high school,” Badgett said.

That sort of outlook and experience will be “a particularly strong fit for New Haven,” said Nelson County Schools Superintendent Anthony Orr.

“As a principal, I always knew who my go-to people were. (Badgett’s) principals spotted her talent and developed it very intentionally,” Orr said. “She’s got a lot of good things ahead of her and that means our kids have a lot of good things ahead of them.”

Badgett recently completed an advanced Educational Specialist Degree from University of Louisville and earned certification to become a principal. In 2004 she completed a Master’s in Learning and Behavior Disorders at Campbellsville University.

She was born in Canada, and her early educational experience took place in Ontario where she worked for the York Region Board of Education after earning undergraduate degrees at Wilfrid Laurier University and York University.

In addition to her teaching responsibilities in Washington County, Badgett has also been Special Education Department Leader since 2008 and ARC chairperson since 2012.

“She has a lot of energy. A real passion for the work, and real presence – something a principal needs,” Orr said.

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