New principals named for Shelton’s Mohegan, Sunnyside schools

SHELTON — One principal’s departure has led to new leaders for two city elementary schools.

Longtime Sunnyside School Principal Amy Yost recently announced she was leaving the school, which led to two moves — the shifting of Mohegan School Principal Darla Lussier to Sunnyside and the hiring of John Coppola to man the helm at Mohegan.

“(Coppola) has a passion and commitment for education,” Superintendent Ken Saranich said after welcoming him to the district at Wednesday’s Board of Education meeting.

The board voted unanimously to hire Coppola, a longtime member of the Ansonia school district, where he served as a teacher and most recently assistant principal for the past decade. Coppola will earn $162,385 in the post.

“I had been an assistant principal for years, and it was time for me to take the next step and run my own school,” said Coppola, an Orange resident who grew up in Derby. “When this Mohegan job opened up, I saw this has a perfect spot. It has that small school, family feel, which is just what I was looking for in my next move.

“It is a wonderful place ... everyone has been so welcoming,” he added.

Board of Education Chair Kathy Yolish said some two-dozen people applied for the post, and in the end, Coppola stood above the rest.

“John brings a wealth of attributes to the position of principal, most notably having served in the military, working in all levels of the educational system as well as his involvement and commitment with the community he worked in.

“He literally checked all the boxes of what we were looking for in a candidate,” Yolish added.

Coppola has worked as a high school science teacher, middle school and elementary school vice principal, and was involved with the preschool accreditation process.

“He exemplifies a leader who will nurture staff partnerships, meet challenges, collaborate and communicate and build a strong staff-student-parent- community partnership,” Yolish added.

Coppola said he grew up in the Valley and is happy to remain in the area. He added that his educational experience combined with his four years of active duty in the U.S. Army have prepared him for this latest leadership role.

“I’ve learned to take things in stride, to take care of people,” Coppola said. “In schools, my goal is to treat the students like your own and make a family atmosphere out of it — that’s the type of leadership I’m bringing to Mohegan School. My goal is to not only honor the traditions already in place but also evolve and create new traditions.”

“His positive approach, leadership skills, and understanding of the teaching and learning process makes him the perfect fit for Mohegan School and the Shelton

team,” Saranich added.

Coppola served as an assistant elementary principal in Ansonia for almost 10 years. In his entire career with the Ansonia School District, Saranich said Coppola has “developed his skills in socialemotional learning and targeted instructional strategies to improve student achievement.

“John has served at the elementary, middle and high school level, demonstrating a true understanding of student development in a Pre-k -12 system,” Saranich said.

Coppola is a graduate of Syracuse University and obtained his masters and his educational leadership degree from Southern Connecticut State.

Yost, who had served as Sunnyside principal since 2014, was recently named the new principal at Cook Hill Elementary School in Wallingford. She starts her new position on Aug. 15.

Lussier was named Mohegan School principal in 2020, taking over for Kristen Santilli, who was named the district’s director of curriculum, instruction and data.

Lussier served as an elementary school teacher in the district for the past 20 years before taking the principal position. She was the administrative intern at Sunnyside School for four years. In addition to her teaching responsibilities, Lussier has served the district as the summer school program director since 2011.