Two Ox Ridge Elementary School teachers have been appointed assistant principals at Hindley Elementary School, Superintendent Alan Addley announced.
Cristina Bras Taylor and Mary Beth Giannattasio will start in their new positions July 1, Addley said in a news release.
Christina Bras Taylor, Assistant Principal for Special Education
Taylor has served as the high school and middle school Special Education Department chair, interim assistant principal at Hindley School and a teacher in the Developmental Learning Center at Ox Ridge.
Photo from Darien Public Schools
Christina Bras Taylor, the next assistant principal for special education
She received a B.S. in history and secondary education from Western Connecticut State University, an M.A. in bilingual education from Fairfield University and a Professional Certificate in intermediate administration from Sacred Heart University.
Taylor started her teaching career in the Danbury Public Schools in 1998. She held several teaching positions including special services facilitator, bilingual special education teacher, resource teacher and teacher of English to speakers of other languages.
From 2009 to 2016 she served as a private reading and English language instructor in Portugal, New Zealand and Australia. In 2016 she returned to the Danbury school system as a special services facilitator, a position that she held until coming to Darien in 2020.
“After having acted as interim assistant principal for two months last
school year, I could not be more excited to return to work with the incredible staff
and the community at Hindley Elementary School,” Taylor said. “I look forward to us working together to achieve spectacular outcomes!”
Addley said: “We are excited to welcome Cristina back to the Hindley Elementary School. Cristina’s teaching, special education and administrative experiences will be invaluable resources to the Hindley School staff, students and school community.”
Mary Beth Giannattasio, Assistant Principal
Giannattasio earned her Bachelor of Science degree in education and liberal studies from Westfield State College and a master’s in special education from Fairfield University. She received her sixth-year degree in educational leadership from Quinnipiac University last year.
Photos from Darien Public Schools
Mary Beth Giannattasio, Hindley School’s next assistant principal
She began her teaching career in 2004 as an elementary classroom teacher in the Fairfield school district and spent the next nine years teaching both second and fourth grades. In 2013, she began her Darien teaching career at Ox Ridge Elementary School.
Giannattasio has taught in kindergarten, first and third grades and has served on multiple committees in the district; including the K-3 Literacy Core Review Team; the Curriculum Writing Team for Play-Based Learning; the Emotional Learning Committee; the Professional Development and Evaluation Committee. She is currently a member of Darien’s Aspiring Teacher Leader Academy.
“Mary Beth’s passion, expertise in elementary education and experiences as a teacher leader ensure her success as a member of the Hindley administrative team,” Addley said. We congratulate Mary Beth on her new administrative appointment and welcome her to the Hindley school community.”
Giannattasio said: “I am incredibly honored and thrilled to be joining the Hindley
community. I am really looking forward to working alongside the staff and
supporting the students and their families.”