Permanent Assistant Principals Named At Cloonan Middle School And Davenport Ridge

Information via Stamford Public Schools

STAMFORD, CT — Superintendent of Stamford Public Schools Dr. Tamu Lucero announced this week that Jillian Churchill has been named the permanent assistant principal at Cloonan Middle School, while Melissa Fano-Dropick has been named the permanent assistant principal at Davenport Ridge Elementary School.

Both Churchill and Fano-Dropick are currently serving as interim assistant principals at their respective schools. The permanent appointments are effective July 1.

Churchill began her career with Stamford Public Schools as a third grade teacher at Newfield Elementary and later taught sixth grade English language arts at Scofield Magnet Middle School and sixth grade science and social studies at Cloonan, according to the school district.

She was named Cloonan’s administrative intern in 2020 and was named assistant principal (206 day) in 2021. Churchill was appointed interim assistant principal (224 day) in June 2024.

Fano-Dropick began her career with Stamford Public Schools as a special education teacher at Rippowam Middle School and later served as Rippowam’s special education PPT facilitator and learning performance and data coach, the district said.

She joined Stillmeadow as a special education teacher in 2008 and was named the Scientific Research Based Intervention (SRBI) teacher in 2019. Fano-Dropick joined Davenport Ridge as the teacher-leader for student support in 2022 and was appointed interim assistant principal (224 day) in July 2023.

The school district said both candidates were selected through a competitive hiring process that attracted candidates from within and outside SPS.

Committees of teachers, staff, parents, and community members conducted the first two rounds of candidate interviews. Final candidates interviewed with an associate superintendent and Lucero.

Churchill earned a bachelor's degree in English from Central Connecticut State University and a master's in elementary education from Fairfield University. She has professional certifications in K-6 elementary education (CT 013) and K-12 intermediate administration or supervision (CT 092). Churchill received the SPS Spotlight on Teaching Award in 2020.

Fano-Dropick earned a bachelor's degree in psychology from Central Connecticut State University, a master's in special education from Saint Joseph College, and both a master's in remedial reading and educational leadership from Sacred Heart University.

She has professional certifications in comprehensive special education PreK-12 (CT 065), remedial reading 1-12 (CT 102), and K-12 intermediate administration or supervision (CT 092).