The Derby Board of Education Wednesday named Gregory Gaillard the new principal at Derby High School.
Galliard, a Naugatuck resident, has worked at the high school for four years. He was assistant principal under Fran Thompson, who recently left Derby to take the principal’s position at Jonathan Law in Milford.
Galliard, 33, played a key role under Thompson in putting the high school on the right track after a streak of administrative instability and student discipline problems.
“I’m honored and I’m excited at the opportunity,” Gaillard told the Valley Indy after Wednesday’s Board of Education meeting. “My plan is to build on the pride and the tradition at Derby.”
Derby Superintendent Stephen Tracy said Gaillard is a motivated leader.
“Derby High School is poised to move to the next level – which means higher levels of academic engagement and achievement for all students,” Tracy said. “I am confident that Greg Gaillard is prepared to lead our high school in that direction.”
Gaillard, a father of two, is a graduate of Keene State College in New Hampshire. He has a master’s degree in education from Westfield State University in Massachusetts.
He’s been in the education field for 11 years.
He came to Derby High as a social studies teacher in 2007 after teaching in the Suffield public school system. He also served as assistant athletic director at Derby High School.
He has a intermediate administrator certification and a sixth-year degree from Sacred Heart University.
The position pays a salary of $123,472.
This year’s graduating class was special to Galliard because they were first-year students during his first year on the job.
The members of Derby Class of 2011 dedicated their yearbook to him, saying “Thank you Mr. G. for always being there for us! We will always think of you when we look back on our time at Derby High.”
Gaillard is expected to commence his new responsibilities on Aug. 1.
“I plan to continue to reach to the next step and continue to raise the bar at the school,” Gaillard said. “The ABC’s at Derby High School are academics, behavior and citizenship. There are always room for improvement in all three.”
