Principal Cohen Prepares to Say Good Bye to Stony Brook

Stony Brook parents and students have come to know Principal Peter Cohen over the past seven years, but in just a few short weeks, they will have to say good bye.

Cohen will be leaving Stony Brook Middle School at the end of this school year to finish his doctoral dissertation at Boston College with the hopes of potentially moving up to a job as either an Assistant Superintendent or Superintendent, a position he has already sought elsewhere without success so far.

Whether he finds another job or not, Cohen says he will focus on his dissertation, which he expects to finish next March.

"This has been a terrific experience, its a great school system and fantastic teachers, but what really makes it a terrific system is that the kids are so motivated to be here, they're outstanding," said Cohen. "I'm in contact with principals in urban schools and bigger districts and they have much more significant problems than we have here."

Cohen leaves as the school district faces potential budget issues in the next fiscal year, but he still sees the increasing the use of technology in education as Stony Brook's biggest task in the future, including training teachers on devices that students may bring in from home. 

"I'd like to see more technology integration, which is dependent upon good budget years moving forward and that proposed technology coordinator position," said Cohen. "A lot of surrounding districts are giving every student a tablet, but we're not there yet so I think we have to get creative."

Despite that challenge, Cohen believes Stony Brook is ready to move on without him as it prepares to hire a new Assistant Principal.

"I think the school is in a good spot moving forward," he said. "I think the school's set up for success, no doubt about it, and I look forward to helping out in any way I can to make sure the same high standards."