James D’Amico Voted New Staples Principal

Following a months’ long national search, the Westport school board tonight voted unanimously to appoint James D’Amico, Westport’s director of secondary education, as Staples High School’s new principal.

James D’Amico: takes over July 1.  Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

D’Amico, 39, replaces John Dodig who retired last year. Mark Karagus, who has an extensive background in secondary education, is filling in as interim principal through the end of June. D’Amico takes the helm July 1.

“Staples is the crown jewel of Westport,” said D’Amico, lauding its long history of educational excellence. “We have extraordinary teams here that make that happen.

“It’s an honor and an extraordinary responsibility,” he added about heading a school that is “a model of what public education can be.”

Calling the confidence the board had in him humbling, D’Amico said, “I look forward to doing the work.”

Schools Superintendent Elliott Landon made the recommendation to the board, noting that D’Amico was one of three finalists for the job.

Landon said that as he reflected over the weekend, he said he knew he wanted someone who was an outstanding teacher respected by colleagues, had experience in a large high school and was “someone who had an understanding of the very complex culture of Westport.”

“How good it is that we are choosing one of our own,” said Michael Gordon, school board chairman.

He described D’Amico as “brilliant academically, but also very human.”

“He has a good heart,” said Gordon, who also said D’Amico was a “great listener.”

Gordon also lauded D’Amico as one able to make hard decisions that are best for students.

Before becoming director of secondary education in March 2014, D’Amico served as social studies department chairman for grades 6 to 12 for nine years.

Prior to that, he was a teacher at Staples for eight years.

According to his LinkedIn profile, D’Amico graduated from the University of Connecticut in 1998 with a B.A. in educational leadership and administration, general; He received his M.A. in secondary education from UConn in 2001, and earned a sixth year, education administration from UConn in 2006.

At Staples, he was advisor to the Junior Statesmen Foundation. He is also an assistant den leader for his son’s Cub Scout pack in Bethel.

—James Lomuscio