Courtesy of College of St. Joseph’s
Mary Guggenberger
By Polly Lynn
On Wednesday, July 1, former Principal of Killington Elementary School Loren M. Pepe announced that Mary Guggenberger would be taking over the reins as the new school principal starting July 20.
“This week the KES Board officially appointed Mary Guggenberger to be the new KES Principal,” Pepe wrote in a letter to KES families, July 1. “Mrs. Guggenberger worked at KES for a short term approximately 12 years ago. Our staff and families loved having her on board then, and I’m sure you will feel the same way now.”
Mary Guggenberger has most recently been the principal at Christ the King, a pre-K-8 grade school in Rutland.
Mrs. Guggenberger stated in her cover letter that when she worked at KES in the past, she felt “…very fortunate to be in the presence of professional and talented teachers….whose experience with and dedication to students and learning was truly evident.” She went on to note that Killington Elementary continues to “…maintain a reputation of an excellent school with high academic standards and quality learning opportunities for its students.”
Guggenberger received her master’s degree in education from the College of St. Joseph’s in 2003 and has been recognized many times for her excellence in education leadership. Most recently Mary Guggenberger accepted a national award on behalf of Christ the King School which was the 2015 recipient of the Innovations in Catholic Education award for technology. Guggenberger accepted the award during a reception at the National Catholic Educators Association Convention in Orlando, Fla., in April. Over 6,000 Catholic educators came to the convention from across the country came. Christ the King was recognized as a leading school for implementing exemplary, innovative programs to improve the teaching and learning of students, faculty, and staff.
“I’d like to thank the interview team for working together to find such a wonderful fit for KES,” Pepe concluded in her letter. “I feel Mrs. Guggenberger will be perfect for KES, and I know you all will welcome her with open arms.”
After 23 years as an educator and administrator at Killington Elementary School, Loren Pepe will be taking on a new challenge as an assistant principal at Rutland Intermediate School, a school with about 600 students grades 3-6.
