Derby Board Of Education Appoints New Principal At Irving School

Photo from Derby Public Schools

(Left to right) Superintendent of Schools Matthew Conway, Nicole Russo, Avery Russo, Fitzgerald Russo, Marc Russo, and Derby Board of Education Chairman Jim Gildea.

DERBYMarc Russo, a familiar face around Derby schools, has been named the new principal of Irving School.

Russo came to Derby in 2018 as dean of students at Derby Middle School and then was named the dean of students for the Irving and Bradley elementary schools in 2019. 

The Derby Board of Education at its meeting Wednesday (July 5) unanimously voted to appoint Russo to the principal job. Russo replaces former Irving School Principal Aimee Misset, who left after five years to become principal of Great Oak Elementary School in Oxford.


Russo, 46, will receive an annual salary of $157,355. He officially began the new job at Irving on Thursday (July 6), overseeing a staff of about 80 employees.

According to Superintendent of Schools Matthew Conway, 31 people applied for the job. An advisory committee, composed of two school board members, two administrators, the director of teaching and learning, three teachers and two parents, interviewed 10 potential candidates. The committee and Conway ultimately recommended Russo for the job.

Russo told the Valley Indy he’s looking forward to working with the K‑5 students and staff at Irving in an expanded role.

I’m most excited to strengthen the relationships with the kids that I worked with over the last four years, and the ability to expand my role with them,” Russo said. Moving from the dean of student affairs to the principal of Irving School allows me the opportunity to have a greater impact on the teachers and staff that we entrust in developing our young minds. I will now be more of an instructional facilitator for the students’ academic improvement and achievement through my leadership of staff.”

Russo said one goal is to increase parental involvement in Irving School through the PTA and community partnerships.

The people are what make the City of Derby, Derby Public Schools and Irving School great,” Russo said. I have the privilege of enduring and strengthening those relationships I’ve built with staff, parents, colleagues, community members, and especially my number one priority, the students.”

Prior to coming to Derby in 2018, Russo worked as a teacher for 18 years in North Haven, having taught language arts and math, while also coaching baseball, softball and football. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance from Providence College, a Master of Arts degree in Elementary Education from the University of New Haven and a 6th Year certificate in Educational Leadership from Quinnipiac University.

As dean of students, Russo worked with the building principals to create a safe and supportive environment and establish deep-rooted community relationships, according to Conway.

With this type of experience in the school and district, he will hit the ground running. We were very fortunate to have had a highly competitive pool of candidates and Mr. Russo rose to the top throughout the process,” Conway said in a press release.

School board chairman Jim Gildea, in a prepared statement, said Russo is a great fit for the job.

Marc is the type of administrator who rolled his sleeves up and jumped right in, he will offer a strong sense of continuity and I am confident that the school will continue to excel and maintain the close-knit family atmosphere that exists there,” according to Gildea.

Russo, a native of North Haven, and his wife Nicole, of 18 years, have two children, Avery, 14 and Fitzgerald, 10, along with a new puppy named Phoebe. 

Marc Russo

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