Julie Droller, named interim principal of Hindley School last August, now has been appointed principal by the Darien Board of Education.
Last August, Droller was hired to fill the position after former Principal DJ Collela was put on leave. Collela would be on leave for “the beginning of the 2018-19 school year,” Interim Superintendent Elliott Landon said in a Aug. 17 letter to parents of Hindley students.
On Tuesday morning, Landon announced the appointment, made Monday night at a special Board of Education meeting.
Here’s the full text of Landon’s announcement:
I am pleased to inform you that after a comprehensive search and interview process that included parents, teachers, and administrators, the Darien Board of Education appointed Julie Droller as principal of Hindley Elementary School at a special Board of Education meeting on Monday, April 29, 2019.
From Droller's Web page on the Westport Public Schools website
Julie Droller, who has been interim principal at Hindley School since August, has been appointed principal.
Ms. Droller began her teaching career as an elementary school teacher at Scotland School in Ridgefield, CT, teaching both first and third grade there. Ms. Droller first came to Darien in 2004 and spent two years in the District as the K-5 Language Arts Specialist before moving back to Ridgefield to serve as the Principal of Veteran’s Park Elementary School in 2006.
In 2011, Ms. Droller moved to Westport and served as the Principal of Saugatuck Elementary School for three years before being appointed as director of Elementary Education in 2014, a position in which she served until assuming the role of Interim Principal at Hindley Elementary School earlier this year.
- SEE ALSO: Hindley Principal DJ Collela Goes On Leave — No Reason Given to Parents (Aug. 23, 2018)
In Westport, Ms. Droller implemented a balanced literacy approach at the elementary level and a new Social Emotional Curriculum, Grades PK-12. During her most recent time here in Darien, she has served as an articulate and passionate advocate for the addition of a second psychologist in each of our elementary schools.
Hindley School
Hindley School, north entrance (a 2007 photo on Wikimedia Commons)
After receiving news of her appointment Ms. Droller stated that one of her goals in this permanent position will be to “strengthen the home/school partnership by bringing parents into the school to provide a deeper understanding of our practices – what they look like and the reasons behind our approach.”
Ms. Droller also said that she “looks forward to working with teachers and staff to maintain the pride that everyone feels about being part of this wonderful school community.”
Please join me in welcoming Ms. Droller as your new principal and congratulating her on her appointment.