Alexander Hamilton HS student Angela Mathews (bottom row, first from right) was recognized by County Executive George Latimer at a May 15th meeting of the Westchester County Youth Leadership Task Force. The meeting provided an opportunity for the County Executive to thank the students for this year's activities in preventing youth substance use, and hear the students' perspectives on vaping, alcohol, marijuana, and other substance use.

 

The Youth Leadership Task Force consists of 60 students from 26 schools. It is part of the Westchester County Coalition for Drug and Alcohol Free Youth and is charged with identifying needs and contributing ideas for Countywide substance use prevention strategies and implementing those strategies in members' schools and communities. The Task Force is coordinated by Student Assistance Services. Task force members participate in their school's SADD (Students Against Destructive Decisions) or other similar club and/or community Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition and meet monthly to provide input on media campaigns and other prevention activities directed at youth. 

 

The May 15th meeting was the last meeting of the school year and provided an opportunity for the students to receive certificates of appreciation. Students are holding posters containing messages about the dangers of youth marijuana use. The messages were created by the Task Force and were distributed on social media and in schools and other locations in the County around April 20th) which has been designated as Healthy Brain Day.

 

Jaleah Nichols also represents Alexander Hamilton HS on the Task Force but was not able to attend the meeting. 

 

 

This time of year, high school seniors are waiting anxiously for graduation and are looking ahead to the next chapter in their lives beyond high school. Juniors are slowly beginning to think about what will be next for them as well. Joining these groups are also eighth graders, who are about to embark on a new journey—starting high school.

 

It is an important transition and although they may be familiar with Alexander Hamilton High School and its teachers, there will be new expectations, and they too need to slowly think about how best to set themselves up for success in the future.

 

Of course, there are multiple resources in place for the new freshmen and their families. This was made clear during the “Road to Success” presentation by the AHHS guidance department, held on April 27 for both parents and students.

 

During the presentation, rising 9th graders and their families met with AHHS guidance counselors Monica Ahern and Stephanie Luccioni-Burns to learn more about what to expect as  a part of the high school experience. Erica Carrasquillo, who teaches English as a New Language, was also on hand to interpret and answer questions.

 

They walked those in attendance through what to expect each year. During their 9th grade year, students will be getting used to high school and learning independently. In 10th grade their coursework becomes more focused with classes that might culminate in AP credit, or college credit through dual enrollment. This is also the time to consider taking the PSAT in the fall.

 

Things are busier for students in 11th grade. This junior year is when students take the PSAT again or for the first time, and they may also want to consider taking the SAT and or ACT for the first time too. This is also the time for students to begin to make a list of colleges they are interested in. Counselors provided tips on the use of Naviance, a web-based college software program offering college preparedness tools, to set up college visits. Juniors will also start to work on their resumes, which will be posted on the platform, and speak to teachers about letters of recommendations early in that school year.

 

A student’s 12th grade, or senior year, is not the time to relax, as there is still work to be done. The fall of their final year may consist of taking the SAT or ACT, finalizing their college list and begin filling out the Common Application as fall is the time to apply to colleges. They should also be looking for scholarships, beyond what the guidance counselors can suggest.

Parents were interested to learn how their child can register to take AP or Honors classes.

 

“A lot of it is based on teacher recommendations,” Ms. Luccioni-Burns said, adding that students with an 85 or higher-grade average will often be considered for more advanced courses.

 

When it comes to taking entry level exams like the SAT, the recommendation was for students to take the PSAT as a freshman so that they can learn what their strengths and weaknesses are and work on those areas to be better prepared when they take the SAT later.

 

The school counseling team recommends students still take the SAT and/or the ACT even though many colleges and universities have relaxed the impact these results can have on an individual’s acceptance. There is always the possibility that colleges will change their minds. Most often, they said, acceptance to a certain school is based on a student’s overall transcript.

 

Although it can be overwhelming to have to think about what they want to do when they grow up, Ms. Carrasquillo noted that parents should begin to talk to their children about potential careers and learn more about their child’s areas of interest. For some, she said, another great opportunity they may want to consider is the trades and attending a BOCES CTE program.

 

The guidance department is there to help students, and this includes working with them to select courses that would benefit their future college study or work opportunities. For example, if a student is interested in pursuing a career in the medical field, they will be encouraged to take more science classes. 

 

Those in the guidance department will also assist students in making sure they take the required number of courses to graduate as well as taking Regents exams.

 

“It goes really fast,” Ms. Luccioni-Burns said of a student’s senior year. And while it may be tempting for them to slow down and take it easy, there is still much that needs to be done. 

 

“Senior grades still count,” she said.

 

Parents were encouraged if they have any questions to reach out to the guidance department.

It was a night of celebration on April 26, 2023, when friends and families gathered in the Alice E. Grady Elementary School gymnasium to recognize the hard work of the 2023 candidates inducted into the National Elementary Honor Society.

 

Like countless other events that had been postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this particular one had also been tabled, making its return cause for celebration.

 

“The dedication to excellence, responsibility, leadership scholarship and service is simply amazing,” fifth grade teacher and honor society advisor Christine Budzynski said of the selected students. “They are our leaders for tomorrow.”

 

“It’s truly an honor for those here tonight,” she continued.

 

Jaclyn Warren, the co-advisor for the elementary organization, noted the group was created by the leadership of the National Association of Elementary and Secondary Principals. Students receive an invitation based on their academic performance and their sense of responsibility.

 

During the ceremony, four candles were lit by sixth grader Khang Tran. Each candle represented the National Elementary Honor Society Principles: Scholarship, Responsibility, Service and Leadership. As the candles were lit, a nominee read what each of the principles mean.

 

SCHOLARSHIP: A commitment to learning.

RESPONSIBILITY: Commitment to doing what you say you will do.

SERVICE: Helping others to do what they cannot do alone.

LEADERSHIP: Exert a positive influence on your school.

 

The ceremony also included performances by the Grady Choir and Grady Band.

 

Once the honorees received their certificates, students recited the NEHS pledge.

 

“I would like to say how proud we are of our Elementary National Honor Society nominees,” Principal Andrea Hamilton said. “You are role models, and you demonstrate excellence.”

 

Congratulations to this year’s nominees:

 

Fifth Grade

Ryan Betwarda

Jerry Chicayza-Guallpa

Ava Daniel

Dina DeLeon

Anthony Diaz

Shonn Dutan

Dominic Lucero

Jack Rodriguez

Nicole Rodriguez

Sofia Tragni

Khoi Tran

 

Sixth Grade

Nasir Bilal

Olivia Diaz

Jeremy Elvir

Adiba Hossain

Aaron Matthew

Daniel Morocho

Charlize Palines

Jasmine Ramkissoon

Justin Pineiro Rivera

Khang Tran

For the third year in a row, members of the Alexander Hamilton High School GREEN, Getting Raiders to Establish an Ecological Network Club, donned their gardening gloves and dug in. It was a glorious afternoon, of clear skies and cool temperatures, and the perfect way to celebrate Earth Day, which fell on April 22 this year.

The courtyard has been a focus for the club since its inception, and currently is home to eight raised beds for growing herbs and vegetables, and several terraced gardening beds where this year the club planted a variety of flowers.

 

“I enjoy nature,” senior Lizbeth Garita said as she dug up some weeds. “It gives me a distraction from school. Plus, with tests coming up it’s a nice distraction.”

 

Assisting her was sophomore Matteo DiBerto.

 

“It’s a good way to feel good about yourself because you are nurturing the world and heling out,” Matteo said.

 

“It’s a nice experience because you are outside and helping,” agreed sophomore Alejandro Ponce.

 

On this day several Dianthus plants along with basil, cilantro, lavender, English daisies and lithodora were waiting to be planted.

 

Senior and club co-president Dhaniel Saleh said she joined the club last year because of her interest in the environment.

 

“I like doing my part for global warming,” she said, adding that she’s proud of her school’s pledge for zero carbon emissions and the work the club does with the assistance of the Village of Elmsford and parent volunteer Joel Rodriguez, both of which have been supporting the club and its work since it began.

 

“It’s a small step in our town, but a big thing. I am contributing,” she said.

 

She’ll be attending SUNY Stony Brook in the fall and hopes to study biochemistry. Dhaniel said she plans to join the environmental club while in college too.

 

Co-president junior Digna Pintazo was busy preparing the terraced beds.

 

“I try to do something to help the environment,” she said as to why she got involved in the club. “It’s nice to be a part of a group and being a leader in the community.”

 

Club advisor social studies teacher Francine Thomas said the club is an active one and promotes creativity for its members. This year, she said, she is working with students to help them become club advocates, including learning how to ask the district administration for the club’s needs.

 

Looking around the classrooms at the Carl L. Dixson Primary School it was clear several students had given their futures some serious consideration. Dressed up as their future selves, students donned police uniforms, art smocks, soccer jerseys and several had stethoscopes around their necks. There were teachers, construction workers and firefighters too.

 

On Career Day, held this year on April 19, students were introduced to a variety of possibilities with visits from parents and friends who dropped in to talk about the work they do and why they do it.

 

“It’s an opportunity for them to engage in the world around them,” Principal Jeffrey Olender told the volunteers who were visiting that day about the students.

 

Several students had a parent or family friend make presentations.

 

“I get up early to work in the garden,” said florist Nicole Tarpey.

 

“She really does,” confirmed her daughter, Greta, who was sitting in on the presentation.

 

“My real passion is all things plants,” Ms. Tarpey told students.

 

She also discussed some of special projects she has worked on, including a special floral decoration she designed for the Lyndhurst Mansion.

 

“Does Mother Nature love you,” one inquisitive student wanted to know of landscaper James Hurley.

 

“Maybe,” was his response. “Mother Nature is important; we help Mother Nature.”

 

Mr. Hurley works for Elmsford-based It’s So All Good Landscaping and Snow Plowing. He talked to students about how he and his crew cut grass, trim trees and plant flowers along with snow removal. He brought several large pieces of equipment to show the students the kinds of tools he uses. Each student was also given a pack of flower seeds to take home.

 

“This business started with a lawn mower and a pick-up truck 25 years ago,” he said. “It’s nice to work outside.”

 

Science Teacher Jessica Doherty brought with her a simple science presentation that exercised the audience’s observational skills.

 

“I teach kids who are about as tall as me,” she said referring to her middle school students.

 

Holding a tube with colorful pom-poms at the end, Ms. Doherty asked students what they thought would happen if she pulled one of colorful balls up or down. Students guessed the ball attached to it would go down, or maybe up.

When Ms. Doherty pulled on the yellow pom-pom, the red one at the other end of the tube went down.

 

“How did you do that,” one student wanted to know. “Is it magic?”

 

It all had to do with science and the mechanics of what was inside the tube, Ms. Doherty explained.

 

Asking questions is a big part of her students’ job, she told them. And it’s her job as a teacher to help them find answers, she said.

 

“My job is to protect the country we live in,” Sgt. Andres Medina, a member of the Army National Guard, told students.

 

He said that while he’s been in the Army, he has had three jobs — as a mechanic, an artillery man and most recently as a recruiter.

 

His job, he explained, is not always about being a soldier. He said that he also helps assisting refugees and following natural disasters.

 

Fire Chief Pete DeLuca said he also has a job helping people. He joined the local fire department after spending so much time there as a child with his father, who was also a firefighter.

“I really love it because I get to do a lot of fun things,” he said, adding that he gets to drive the firetruck, of which there was one behind him students could look at, and he helps people when they have an emergency.

 

The Elmsford Police Department dispatch got a surprise when Sgt. Charles Bennett put his radio on and had the students send a message: “It’s Dixson Career Day!” the children shouted into the walkie-talkie.

 

Sgt. Bennett was visiting classrooms with his colleague SRO Doug Ramirez.

 

“Our job is to protect people,” SRO Ramirez explained.

 

Restaurant owner Darnell Charles talked to students about being an entrepreneur. While his passion was for food, he told them that they could find a job doing what they loved too.

 

“An entrepreneur,” he said, “is someone who has a great idea and uses it to make money. Whatever you guys are passionate about, you can make it your career.”

 

“I want you to understand you are capable of anything you put your mind to,” Mr. Charles said.

 

As the morning progressed, students also had an opportunity to meet an actuary, a facilities manager, a mechanic, mortgage broker, nurse, a member of the New York Police Department, and a professor.

 

Local author Annie Turnquest made an impression during her visit to the Alice E. Grady Elementary School two years ago.

 

When she stopped in a fourth-grade classroom during her most recent visit, several students remembered her.

 

“I want you back,” one student said. Another remarked how they still had her book that she gave out on that sunny day when the then second graders read out on the lawn of the school.

 

Ms. Turnquest was visiting once again, this time meeting with the current second graders, but she couldn’t pass up an opportunity to visit her old friends and encourage them to read too.

 

Each student she saw on this day was given a card that said “It’s 7 p.m., Did you read with your children tonight?” as a reminder for families to take time and stop what they are doing to read, read and read!

 

She demonstrated the activity herself, reading to the younger students from her book “From Inside: The Boys Brigade Learn During Coronavirus.”

 

The story shares how several characters found new and exciting things to do to stay busy and have fun during the COVID lockdowns, including reading, learning to play the ukulele and gardening.

 

Ms. Turnquest is a school librarian and founder of Tha Brown Urban Mother Partners, Inc., a volunteer organization that supports young women. She is also an active member of Books, Badges and Beverages, a group that partners with a local bakery and members of the Mount Vernon Police to distribute donated books to children. She is also a columnist for Black Westchester Magazine.

 

During the COVID lockdown, Ms. Turnquest began writing children’s books, first publishing her semi-autobiographical “Annie Goes Camping, An Extraordinary Adventure.” The impact of the pandemic was such that Ms. Turnquest focused her next two books on how children managed the ordeal with “From Inside: The Boys Brigade Learn During Coronavirus,” and “Stay Inside: The Girls Learn About Coronavirus.”

 

“I always be sure to have characters that look like you,” Ms. Turnquest told students as a way for them to relate to the story and the diverse children they see on the pages of her books.

 

When asked how she goes about writing, the author explained that she first writes the words to her book, using a rhyming scheme. She then types up a manuscript before sending it to her son, Kobe Jones, who illustrates the manuscript, which is then sent to be printed, edited and ultimately self-published.

 

“Anything can happen,” Ms. Turnquest told students when it comes to writing.

 

As for reading, she encouraged students to enjoy reading something every day!

 

An overwhelming sense of curiosity is what paved the way for three women scientists who visited the Alice E. Grady Elementary School. All of them said beginning as a child, they wanted to know how the world around them worked.

 

Given the questions asked by Grady students during a recent assembly, it’s possible there could be many budding scientists here too.

 

Students wanted to know if the visiting scientists used the scientific method, if they like what they do, and if science is good for the world. The inquisitive students also asked if there will ever be a cure for asthma.

 

The assembly was part of the celebration of Women’s History Month and scientists from the Tarrytown-based pharmaceutical company Regeneron visited the school to speak with students and share a fun experiment.

 

“I bet everyone in this room has a little scientist in them,” Isabella DelPriore, who works in pulmonary research, said.

 

Ms. DelPriore was joined by Cindy Arenas, who works in cardio and renal research, and Sabrina Walley who focusses on glaucoma research.

 

“I was always curious about bugs and was always asking questions,” Ms. DelPriore said. She grew up on Long Island and studied biomedical engineering at SUNY Binghamton.

 

As to her day-to-day work, Ms. DelPriore explained that, in part, she “takes little pieces of a lung and puts it under a microscope and figures out what she is looking at.”

 

“I look at bleeding disorders,” Ms. Arenas said of her work at Regeneron.

 

After starting her career working with living organisms, she traveled to Asia where she taught English and continued to work with animals, including moon bears.

 

“All of these things brought me here, to be a scientist,” she said.

 

Ms. Walley said she attended Penn State where she studied toxicology. Like her colleagues, she too was a curious child and that paved the way for her career.

 

When it comes to science, all three women said that it also requires patience.

 

“With science, sometimes things don’t always work out,” Ms. Walley said.

Case in point, during an experiment demonstration with the younger students at the school, she was making “Elephant Toothpaste,” using a mixture of hydrogen peroxide, dish soap and yeast mixed with warm water. When combined, the resulting reaction was supposed to create a mass of bubbles that overflowed the container they were mixed in. Her initial result? Bubbles, but not the explosion of bubbles she was expecting.

 

“Shake it! Shake it!” encouraged the students. But alas, even a good back and forth was not helpful in producing a more enthusiastic result.

 

“The thing about science,” Ms. DelPriore explained, “when we run an experiment and it doesn’t work out, we know what we have to do to fix it.”

 

When Ms. Walley attempted the experiment again, this time with the assistance of science teacher Jeff Hopper, the results? BUBBLES! They just oozed out of the top of the container much to the delight of the students.

 

“Our job is to make mistakes,” Ms. DelPriore said.

 

In another scientific showcase, the woman showed students the skeletal remains of a mouse that was preserved in a special liquid. Ms. Walley walked around among the seated students so they could get a good look at the specimen.

 

Some students were clearly intrigued, “that is sooooo weird,” one student said.

 

When one curious student asked what it felt like to be a scientist, Ms. Walley chose to answer. “Powerful,” she said.

 

Dr. Ronald Gonzalez was formally appointed superintendent at a special meeting of the Elmsford Board of Education Wednesday, March 15, nine months after joining the district as interim superintendent.

 

“This is an important step in my life personally and professionally,” Dr. Gonzalez told the group of well-wishers that had gathered. He shared how he has worked in education for 26 years, including 18 as a leader.

 

Board President Paul Hood swore in Dr. Gonzalez, and a festive atmosphere broke out in the Alexander Hamilton High School Library where the meeting was held.

 

“This is a very special meeting,” Mr. Hood said before thanking all those in attendance, including district families, staff, and Elmsford village administrators.

 

“Dr. Gonzalez, we want to welcome you to the district officially,” Mr. Hood said. “We’ve gotten to know you over the last nine months on an elongated interview so to speak, and you have shown your vision, dedication, commitment and wherewithal that you are ready for this. You’ve put things in place already to help move the district forward. We really appreciate you and welcome you and wish you nothing but the best in your new position,” Mr. Hood said. 

 

Prior to his swearing in, Dr. Gonzalez gave a brief presentation as part of a Community Forum where he shared his vision for the district, how the 2023-2024 budget will assist with that vision, and a brief status update on student progress, in what he called a “journey” through the district since he arrived in July.

 

He began by thanking those who have supported his professional progress, including his family, former colleagues, and the village mayor.

 

From conversations he has had with staff, students and community members, he said he developed four guiding pillars — Safe and Secure Environments, Systems and Structures for Success, Family and Community Engagement, and Equity and Social and Emotional Learning.

 

Dr. Gonzalez also said that he is looking closely at the district’s vision, mission and core values to see if they are “still aligned to the direction we want to take the district,” and to make any necessary adjustments.

 

He shared information about student performance in English, Math and Regents exam results, noting the impact that COVID had and how the district will work to help students improve.

 

“We know we’ve seen a decline across the country,” he said. “My responsibility is to the students of Elmsford and the staff of Elmsford, and to the families to make sure we identify those spaces so that we can start putting in some supports where needed.”

 

“We have to embrace and understand that we are probably preparing students that will graduate in 2029 for stuff that we don’t even know exists yet,” Dr. Gonzalez said of the future. “That has to be part of this learning process for us as we navigate the very next thing that we do.”

 

A large part of planning for the future will focus on the physical school buildings in the district, including a rebuild for Carl L. Dixson Primary School, reconfiguring Alice E. Grady Elementary School to a grades 5-8 school and making the high school ADA-compliant, along with creating specific spaces for technology.

 

Part of the 2023-24 school budget includes a building conditions survey that will help the district identify the priorities for that structure.

 

All of this begins with next year’s budget, he said. The proposed budget amounts to a total of $43,369,630, which would be an average $538 reduction in taxes to Elmsford homeowners.

 

The 2023-24 budget will help reduce class size, allow for additional staff and provide for an additional administrator. For facilities and technology, the budget will replace floors in the fifth-grade wing bathrooms and upgrade the HVAC system at Grady. In addition, it includes funds to create security vestibules at the entrances to the high school and Grady and security camera replacement. In addition, on the technology front, there are funds for replacement of computers that are used and for new servers.

 

There is also funding to investigate the cost to redo the library/media space, including expanding its size and technology at the high school. Funding is also provided for the purchase of a new sound system for gym, musical instruments for the high school and outdoor facility maintenance.

 

Ultimately, Dr. Gonzalez said, regarding the budget, “everything relates to student achievement.”

 

Dr. Gonzalez’ full presentation can be found on the Board of Education website page.

 

When the curtain goes up and the lights come on for the Alexander Hamilton High School spring musical, there will be nothing to do but surrender to the sound.

 

This year a small troupe will present “Disco Daze,” an original piece created by the cast. They describe the show as having a loose story, but the music is the focus. Posters for the show describe it as “a very groovy, totally original musical revue.”

 

Inspired by the Broadway show “Disaster,” which is an homage to the popular disaster movies from the 1970s, the cast took it upon themselves to write a music-heavy script in order to perform classic hits from the era like “Hot Stuff,” “Hooked on a Feeling” and “Saturday Night.”

 

“The 70s were all about having fun,” junior Jada Estrada said with a laugh.

 

“There’s some small plot going on between the characters, but no big story,” explained cast member sophomore Alex Schmitt. “It’s like a 1970s musical revue.”

 

The show is a unique collaboration among performers. A more traditional musical had been selected to be showcased, but due to some staff changes at the school, that fell through. Students were confronted with the possibility that there would be no spring production and they took action.

 

“They were so dedicated,” science teacher and set and lighting designer Sabrina Doolittle said. “They asked ‘how do we make this happen’ so they can showcase their hard work.”

 

Ms. Doolittle said the students sat with the new director and choreographer and together they came up with an original production.

 

There were so many seniors that graduated last year that had participated in the school’s productions in the past, Ms. Doolittle said, that also impacted this year’s show.

 

“The kids in the show are really involved,” she said. “They are already getting ready for fall,” she added, referring to the typical fall drama production.

“It’s great to see them perform,” Ms. Doolittle said.

 

During a recent rehearsal several cast members took a break to chat. They joked they had to research some of the songs, as they had been on the airwaves long before they were born, but they were familiar with others.

 

“My dad knows some of the songs,” sophomore Aurora Johnson said.

 

“A lot of them are really catchy,” Alex said.

 

The hope for the cast, senior Kamilah Cardenas said, is that the audience will be inspired to sing along too.

 

“We’ll break that fourth wall,” Alex joked, referring to the theater convention that states cast members are separated with a “wall” from the audience.

 

Most of the cast consists of young veteran performers who have appeared in other AHHS shows and a few freshmen. They have not had as much time to put their show together as they normally would, and just finished writing the show about a week and half ago.

 

“The personality of our characters, we had full control over that,” Alex said, adding that flexibility made it easier for them as they were not cornered into behaving specifically like what was written for them. “We are able to have that freedom,” she said.

 

“That freedom can be good,” Jada said. “We don’t have anything to go on.”

 

It also is great for allowing more improvisation than if they were working with a more defined script, Alex said.

 

“I think what makes this process work is the cast,” Alex continued. “We’ve all worked on one or two shows together. We can work off each other.”

 

There is a downside however, “you are a lot more vulnerable with the audience,” she said.

 

The cast encourages the community to come on out and see what they’ve done.

 

“You’re never going to see this in another school,” Aurora said.

 

“Disco Daze,” will be performed on Friday March 10 at 7 p.m. and Saturday, March 11 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. Tickets can be purchased at the door, $5 for children and students and $10 for adults.

 

 

At a special meeting on March 15, 2023 at 6:00 p.m., the Elmsford Union Free School District Board of Education will officially name Dr. Ronald Gonzalez Superintendent of Schools.

Dr. Gonzalez joined the district on July 18, 2022, as Interim Superintendent. Previously, he served as Assistant Superintendent for Administration, Curriculum & Instruction in the Public Schools of the Tarrytowns, where he led the district’s equity work. While there Dr. Gonzalez led all aspects of curriculum for grades pre-K through 12 and served as chair of the District Equity Team and the District Strategic Planning Team.

 

“I accept this new role in the district with much humbleness and gratitude,” Dr. Gonzalez said. “I have truly enjoyed my time working in and for the district. I know I have more work to do and am excited to continue to make improvements that will benefit our students.”

 

During the Superintendent’s Conference Day held in late August, Dr. Gonzalez discussed his goals for the year. Among them were providing a safe and secure environment for students and staff, establishing systems and structures that support the work the district does, increasing family and community engagement and continuing the equity and social and emotional learning going forward.

 

“I am excited to continue my work with making these goals a reality and I thank the Board for their continued trust and faith in my abilities to make the Elmsford Union Free School District a district of distinction,” Dr. Gonzalez said.

 

“We are very excited to make Dr. Gonzalez a permanent administrator in our district,” said Board President Paul Hood.

 

“It has become abundantly clear to me and the Board that Dr. Gonzalez has the best interest of our students and families in mind in the work he has already done. During his tenure as interim superintendent, Dr. Gonzalez has enthusiastically embraced our districts goals, values and mission and has worked steadfastly to further improve our commitment to our families, faculty, students and staff.”

“Since his appointment as interim superintendent, he has made many positive improvements to our schools and the Board and I feel he is the ideal choice for the district’s permanent superintendent,” Mr. Hood said. “We look forward to continuing the good work Dr. Gonzalez has begun.”

 

Dr. Gonzalez, who lives in Elmsford, began his career at George Washington High School in Manhattan, where he served as teacher, dean and interim acting principal during his time there. He continued his career working in administrative roles in schools throughout the Bronx, as well as an education administrator and principal with the New York City Department of Education. From 2011-2021, he served as principal at Mount Vernon High School.

 

Dr. Gonzalez earned his bachelor’s degree in education from Manhattan College, his master’s in educational leadership from Bank Street College of Education and a doctorate in Executive Leadership from St. John Fisher University’s Ralph C. Wilson School of Education.

The Elmsford Board of Education invites members of our district to a Community Forum to meet Dr. Gonzalez. Please join us on Wednesday, March 15, 2023 at 5:15 p.m. in the Alexander Hamilton High School Library.