Assistant Principals Appointed At Hindley Elementary School

DARIEN, CT — Two assistant principals at Hindley Elementary School were appointed this week by the Darien Board of Education.

Mary Beth Giannattasio was appointed as assistant principal of the school, and Cristina Bras Taylor was named the assistant principal for special education.

Giannattasio began her teaching career in 2004 at the elementary level in Fairfield and spent the next nine years teaching second and fourth grade.

She came to Darien in 2013 and taught at Ox Ridge Elementary School, and has served on multiple committees within the school district.

"I am incredibly honored and thrilled to be joining the Hindley community," Giannattasio said in an announcement from the school district. "I am really looking forward to working alongside the staff and supporting the students and their families."

Outgoing Superintendent of Darien Public Schools Dr. Alan Addley praised Giannattasio's passion and expertise in elementary education, and he congratulated her on the appointment.

Giannattasio received a bachelor's degree in education and liberal studies from Westfield State College and a master's in special education from Fairfield University. She also received her sixth-year degree in educational leadership from Quinnipiac University last year.

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Taylor first started teaching in the Danbury Public Schools District in 1998. She held several teaching positions there, including special services facilitator, bilingual special education teacher, resource teacher and teacher of English to speakers of other languages.

From 2009 to 2016, Taylor served as a private reading and English language instructor in Portugal, New Zealand and Australia. She returned to Danbury in 2016 as a special services facilitator and came to Darien in 2020.

In Darien, Taylor has served as the high school and middle school special education department chair, interim assistant principal at Hindley Elementary School and a teacher in the Development Learning Center at Ox Ridge Elementary.

"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. I look forward to us working together to achieve spectacular outcomes!" Taylor said in an announcement.

Addley said the district is excited to welcome her back to Hindley.

"Cristina’s teaching, special education and administrative experiences will be invaluable resources to the Hindley School staff, students and school community," he said.

Taylor earned a bachelor's degree in history and secondary education from Western Connecticut State University, a master's in bilingual education from Fairfield University, and a professional certificate in intermediate administration from Sacred Heart University.

Both educators will begin their new positions July 1.