Jennifer Briggs joined Waterford High School this year to replace Alissa Malhoit as the second-floor secretary to assistant principal Tracy Moore.
Mrs. Briggs came to Connecticut 14 years ago when her husband was stationed at the navy sub base in Groton. He retired from the Navy in 2021. The Briggs’ have three children: Alyssa, who is a senior nursing student at the University of New England; Ellie, who is a senior at WHS; and their son, Caleb, who is a seventh grader at Clark Lane Middle School. Mrs. Briggs enjoys sharing her birthday with her daughter, Ellie.
Before coming to WHS, Mrs. Briggs worked as an administrative assistant for three years at the Three Rivers Community College Manufacturing Apprenticeship Center at Grasso Tech, where adults are trained for manufacturing jobs in the area, such as Electric Boat and Pratt & Whitney.
Most recently, she worked at CLMS for one year as the administrative assistant to Assistant Principal Tomeka Howard. As part of the position at CLMS, she handled discipline at the school, along with many other administrative tasks, such as coordinating the school’s calendar, scheduling meetings, monitoring hallways, answering phones, and administering lockers.
She chose to accept this job because it is close to where she lives. She also likes the Waterford Public School system because she enjoys working with the students, faculty, and staff.
Mrs. Briggs said that knowing she is relied on is a great motivation to come into school each morning. She is part of organizing many details at school, including making sure that all students have a teacher to teach them. One of her most important jobs is coordinating substitutes.
Her other main responsibility is coordinating and organizing senior scholarships for the end of the year. Mrs. Briggs oversees the donated scholarship money and allocates the scholarships given out to seniors. Scholarship planning starts at the end of September and is finalized by the end of the year award ceremony. Last year’s scholarships totaled over $100,000.
The name “administrative assistant” is important because Mrs. Briggs helps Mrs. Moore with the discipline and academic learning for the sophomore and senior classes.
Mrs. Moore appreciates Mrs. Briggs hard work and competence. Mrs. Moore has been working in the Waterford Public School District for 12 years. She worked as an assistant principal at Clark Lane Middle School for nine years, until two years ago moving up to the high school to be the assistant principal.
The school year brought new experiences and changes for Mrs. Moore and Mrs. Briggs.
In working with Mrs. Briggs, Mrs. Moore appreciates the calm and positive atmosphere created each day together.
