Board appoints Jillian Roman assistant principal of Doolittle School after multi-stage search

The Cheshire Board of Education appointed Jillian Roman as assistant principal of Doolittle School, approving the recommendation as presented by district staff. The appointment carries an annual salary "in accordance with the terms and conditions of the collective bargaining agreement with Cheshire administrative personnel," the recommendation said. Why it matters: the assistant principal role is a site leadership position that affects instruction, student support and day-to-day school operations. The board heard a detailed account of the search process: staff reported more than 100 applicants initially, an initial screening of 24 candidates, a subsequent screening of about 15, and then a final interview cohort that included faculty and parent representation. The presenter said the screening reviewed "resumes, recommendations, Instagram profiles, Facebook, whatever we could find," and described the process as "very, very detailed." The presenter recommended Roman based on her experience and what was described as "connectedness with kids and her colleagues," calling her an instructional leader. During remarks after the vote, Jillian Roman told the meeting, "I am very, very thankful for this opportunity, and I'm so excited to join the Doolittle staff. I got to meet 10 of them while we were part of that third panel, and they are so happy, and they just bleed that school in all ways. There was one thing that stood out to me. A parent said that her children were coming back, and they said, every year, my teachers are getting better and better. And that stuck with me because that instructional piece is so core for our students." Discussion vs. decision: staff presented the hiring recommendation and the board voted to approve it; no amendment to the appointment or salary language was recorded. Ending: The board approved the appointment and the superintendent was expected to complete administrative steps for onboarding; the transcript does not specify an exact start date or salary amount beyond the reference to the administrative personnel agreement.