Columbus Magnet School Principal Leaving to Work with Foundation

Emily Lopez, principal of Columbus Magnet School for seven years, will be leaving her job to work at the LilySarahGrace Fund, set up by the father of the three Stamford girls who died in a 2011 Christmas Day fire, according to the Hour.

Lopez announced her departure, which will take place in June, in a letter Wednesday to the school’s families, the report said. The principal said she’s been inspired by the people she’s worked with and called the school a great example of effective collaboration between teachers and parents.

She plans to move to Charlotte, SC for the new job as “executive director of programs” for the organization. In that post, she will lead the planning and creation of a professional development office in order to bring “arts-infused, inquiry-based learning” methods to educators around the country, according to the newspaper.

The three girls died after a contractor who was the boyfriend of the girls’ mother left some hot fireplace ashes outside, close to the house. Matthew Badger, the girls’ father, sued the contractor and reached an agreement on a $5 million settlement in 2013, according to the Hartford Courant.

Twins Grace and Sarah Badger were 7 years old. Their older sister, Lily, was 9.

Image from the LilySarahGrace Fund website