New Principal Named At Greenwich Elementary School

GREENWICH, CT — Greenwich Public Schools has appointed Philip Hammack as the new principal of the International School at Dundee, the district announced this week. Hammack succeeds Dana Firmender, who left the district for a position closer to her home.

"Mr. Philip Hammack comes to the International School at Dundee with all the essential characteristics the school community shared that they were looking for in their next principal," said Superintendent Dr. Toni Jones in a prepared statement. "The interview committee, consisting of GPS senior administrators, teachers, and parents recognized him as a great fit for ISD from an impressive and diverse pool of high-quality candidates across the region."

Jones added that Hammack brings experience with the International Baccalaureate (IB) program, high standards, and a "hands-on approach" to help ISD maintain its reputation as one of Connecticut’s leading elementary schools.

Hammack most recently served as assistant principal at Briarcliff Manor Middle School in New York, where he led school-wide initiatives focused on student support, instructional feedback, and professional development. He previously spent 11 years at Bronx Park Middle School in New York City, where he held roles including social studies teacher, dean, assistant principal, and interim principal.

During his tenure, Hammack led the school’s IB accreditation process and oversaw a multi-year improvement effort that raised academic proficiency rates.

Hammack began his career as a special education teacher in Brooklyn.

"Given my previous experience leading an International Baccalaureate school, I am joining the International School at Dundee with a deep appreciation for the complexity of the Primary Years Programme and its power to unlock a child's natural curiosity and creativity," Hammack said in a prepared statement. "Throughout the interview process, I was struck by the deep commitment of school faculty and the shared partnership with families to ISD's unique approach to teaching and learning."

He added, "ISD's exceptional reputation for developing students that are reflective and open-minded is unparalleled, and I cannot wait to get started with our students, staff, and families to continue to build upon the tremendous foundation already in place."

Hammack holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from New York University, a master’s in students with disabilities from Long Island University, and a master’s in educational leadership from Teachers College, Columbia University. He also earned certifications in school district leadership from Lehman College and school building leadership from Teachers College.