Scotts Ridge Middle School Principal Marie Doyon is retiring at the end of the school year, Superintendent Deborah Low announced.
Doyon has worked in education since 1972 and in Ridgefield since 1989.
"For me, it was a long process to come to this decision, and I did just reach it recently. Because I love my job and I love what I do," Doyon said on Wednesday afternoon.
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Doyon was first hired in the district at East Ridge Middle School as school psychologist, Low wrote in a memo dispersed Tuesday. Through the years, she served as senior special education teacher, special ed coordinator, interim director of special ed and interim East Ridge principal.
From 2002, Doyon oversaw the opening of Scotts Ridge Middle School.
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She and East Ridge Principal Marty Fiedler were hired as principals at the same time—the start of 2002—and they regularly make joint presentations to the Board of Education.
"I'm going to miss the partnership that we have, because we're very good friends and we work very closely together," Fiedler said. "We go out for lots of dinners before board meetings."
But Doyon, who has an hourlong daily commute from Litchfield, is looking forward to spending her time in new ways.
"I've put in 38 years in various roles in education, so I'm thinking maybe I'll do something else now. What it is, I don't know. Travel, sleep, read—not necessarily in that order," she said.