Printer Friendly Version - Clinton School District Has New Assistant Superintendent

From left, Superintendent of Schools Maryann O’Donnell joins Marco Famiglietti, the district’s new assistant superintendent, along with Famiglietti’s wife, Kate Lawson (at center), and their children Julia and Peter Lawson and Amanda and John Famiglietti. Photo by Lesia Winiarskyj/Harbor News

At the Board of Education’s July 18 meeting, Superintendent of Schools Maryann O’Donnell announced that Marco C. Famiglietti will be Clinton Public Schools’ new assistant superintendent of schools—a position O’Donnell held from January 2009 until her promotion earlier this year.

“We’re so happy to have you as part of our Clinton family,” BOE Chair Annaliese Spaziano told Famiglietti after the announcement was made.

For the past 10 years, Famiglietti was principal of Avon Middle School, with 55 certified staff and a student body of 550 7th- and 8th-graders. In the first year of his tenure there, the school was named the Connecticut Association of Schools’ School of the Year; from 2003 to 2006, Famiglietti was the school’s assistant principal. His previous experience includes positions as a 7th- and 8th-grade science and social studies teacher and team leader at Avon Middle School (1999-2003) and Stafford Middle School (1995-1999), where he was named Teacher of the Year.

Famiglietti has a bachelor’s degree in Italian studies from the University of Connecticut and a master’s in natural sciences from Central Connecticut State University, where he went on to complete a sixth-year certificate in educational leadership in 2004 and the Advanced Official Certificate Program in Superintendent of Schools in 2014.

O’Donnell, who was named Clinton’s new superintendent in mid-May and officially took over after Jack Cross retired on June 30, says the search for an assistant superintendent was a “thorough, sequenced process” that started as soon as she was appointed in the spring.

“We had 51 applicants,” O’Donnell said, “and the pool was outstanding.”

The process involved O’Donnell and a 15-member committee (including members of the Board of Education, teachers, administrators, and others) screening applicants and conducting three rounds of interviews.

“Marco just really rose up,” O’Donnell said. “He has great interpersonal skills and a philosophy that matches who we are in Clinton. His experience includes leading and being a part of initiatives in areas of curriculum, teacher evaluation, instructional technology, strategic planning, and community relations. Most importantly, he’s demonstrated the ability to commit to continuous improvement and the capacity to work effectively and collaboratively with diverse groups to accomplish goals.”

Famiglietti, who grew up in Wethersfield, said Clinton reminds him in many ways of his hometown.

“I like the nice, warm community sense I get here,” he said, “and I can promise you’ll have 110 percent of my efforts and abilities for many years to come.”

Famiglietti, his wife, and their children currently reside in Plainville. He referred to their blended family as a modern-day “Brady Bunch—but without Alice.”

A start date for the new assistant superintendent of schools has yet to be determined. The annual salary for this position is $159,000.