Fairfield Public Schools Names New Superintendent

The following announcement is from the Fairfield Board of Education:

FAIRFIELD, CT — The Fairfield Board of Education is pleased to announce Michael Testani has been appointed Superintendent of Schools after a vote by board members Wednesday night.

Testani is a Fairfield resident who has been superintendent of Bridgeport Public Schools, the largest district in Connecticut, the past three years. In that time, Testani oversaw a district that saw student achievement increase and student absentee rates fall, while persevering through the challenges of the pandemic.

"On behalf of the Board of Education, I am excited to welcome Michael Testani to the Fairfield Public Schools as our next Superintendent of Schools,” said Christine Vitale, chairman of the Board of Education. “With more than 25 years of experience in education, first as a school counselor and most recently as the superintendent of Bridgeport schools, Mr. Testani brings a fresh perspective on how our district might approach school operations, diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, and social-emotional learning.

“He is a strong advocate for all children and a team-builder who has proven to be adept at maximizing resources to improve educational outcomes. We look forward to working together to engage the community and begin implementation of Fairfield’s newly approved District Improvement Plan.”

Testani has served as superintendent in Bridgeport for three years and was a district administrator starting in 2012.

Testani earned a Bachelors degree in Political Science and a Masters in Education from the University of Bridgeport. He also completed the 6th Year Educational Leadership program at Southern Connecticut State University and the Superintendent of Schools Advance Certificate Program at Central Connecticut State University.

“I am honored and grateful for the opportunity to serve the Fairfield community. I look forward to working with the board of education, staff, students and families,” Testani said. "I am excited to begin my tenure as superintendent.”

He was chosen from a pool of nine applicants from four states that included superintendents, central office personnel, and school-level leaders. The search was facilitated by consultants from Trumbull-based Cooperative Educational Services (CES), who guided the district’s search committee through the decision-making process by providing a leadership profile based on feedback from the district’s various stakeholders, and facilitating the interview process with candidates. The consultants employed an advanced interview technique proven to demonstrate the candidates’ abilities to be successful in the leadership position by assessing their supervisory skills, qualities, and attributes against the established profile.

CES is one of the six Regional Educational Service Centers (RESCs) established by the state legislature to provide supports and services to public school districts. CES serves students and educators in Fairfield County, along with executive search services throughout the state. More information about CES can be found at www.cestrumbull.org.