Interim Principal Appointed At Hindley Elementary School

DARIEN, CT — An interim principal has been appointed to serve at Hindley Elementary School through the end of June while Darien Public Schools searches for a permanent administrator, according to an update from Superintendent Dr. Alan Addley.

Jennifer D'Amico, Hindley's assistant principal, will move into the interim principal role to replace Keri Snowden, who announced last month she's leaving the district to become the director of teaching, learning and assessment for Regional School District No. 12 in northern Connecticut.

Snowden's last day in Darien will be March 29.

D'Amico, who has been with Darien Public Schools since 2020, will begin her role effectie April 1, Addley said in a letter to Hindley families Wednesday evening.

Before coming to Darien, D'Amico was an elementary teacher and PLC coordinator with Bethel Public Schools for seven years, Addley said.

Helping D'Amico will be Nicole Pentore, who is currently serving as the district’s elementary curriculum Coordinator; she'll provide additional support to the leadership team at the school from April 1 to April 12, Addley said.

Pentore was an elementary teacher in Fairfield for 10 years and also served as a literacy interventionist at Hindley.

Following the spring recess, on April 22, Cristina Bras Taylor will work as the interim assistant principal for the rest of the school year.

Addley called Bras Taylor "a highly experienced and respected" special education administrator. Most recently, she was Darien High School's special education department chair and is currently assisting the district by covering maternity leaves at both Middlesex Middle School and DHS.

"Central Services administration will continue to provide on-going support and assistance to the Hindley School during this period of transition," Addley said. "Our priority is to ensure a smooth transition for our families while continuing to provide daily, high quality teaching and learning experiences for all students and staff."

The district plans to hire a permanent principal for Hindley who will start work on July 1. The search process has been underway.

"We have a highly qualified pool of candidates. An interview committee, consisting of parents, staff and administration, will conduct in person interviews of screened candidates the last week in March," Addley said. "We welcome Jen, Nicole and Cristina to their new interim positions at Hindley Elementary School."