Newtown Schools Superintendent To Step Down, Effective July 1

NEWTOWN, CT — The town’s schools superintendent will resign at the end of the academic year to become principal of a Darien elementary school.

Christopher Melillo will leave his job in the Newtown Public Schools to become the principal at Ox Ridge Elementary School, effective July 1.

Notification of the move became public during the Darien Board of Education meeting, broadcast via Zoom and posted to YouTube Wednesday night.

Melillo's career in education began as an elementary school teacher in Hamden in 1993. He taught at several schools before becoming an assistant middle school principal in Meriden. Melillo returned to Hamden as an elementary school principal and director of elementary education. He later became the assistant superintendent of curriculum and instruction, and an interim superintendent of schools.

The educator was named superintendent of schools in Newtown in 2022.

"Thank you for this opportunity. I look forward to rolling up my sleeves and doing the work and fostering a thriving educational environment for our students, for our families, for our staff, for our faculty. I really can't wait to hit the ground and start running," Melillo told the Darien Board of Education following his appointment Wednesday.

Melillo graduated from UConn with a bachelor's of education. He received his master's degree in reading, and his administrative and superintendent certificates, and sixth year degree in educational leadership from Southern Connecticut State University. He has earned several education awards and honors throughout his career.

Keri Snowden, the former principal at Ox Ridge, left the Darien district last month.