Half Hollow Hills Welcomes Five New Assistant Principals For 2024-2025

The Half Hollow Hills Central School District has appointed five new assistant principals to their buildings for the 2024-2025 school year. The selections were made from a rich pool of highly qualified candidates that represented a mix of internal applicants and new faces to the district.

The assistant principal vacancies were filled at Half Hollow Hills High School East, Half Hollow Hills High School West, Candlewood Middle School, Paumanok Elementary School and Signal Hill Elementary School by the following people.

- Paige Furman, new assistant principal at Half Hollow Hills High School East

- Sara Choit, new assistant principal at Half Hollow Hills High School West

- Maria Belfiore, new assistant principal at Candlewood Middle School

- Melissa Peyton, new assistant principal at Paumanok Elementary School

- Carolyn DiPreta, new assistant principal at Signal Hill Elementary School

Prior to joining the administrative staff at Half Hollow Hills High School East, Furman was a business teacher at Huntington High School and a dean at Western Suffolk BOCES. She brings strong private-sector experience and skills to the table, having begun her career working in the marketing departments of Chanel and LVMH (Louis Vuitton Moet Hennessy). Furman holds a bachelor’s degree in marketing from Saint Joseph's University in Philadelphia, a master’s degree in business education from Hofstra University, and earned her administrative certification from the State University of New York at Stony Brook.

"I am thrilled to be returning to the high school where my journey in education first began as a student teacher. This district's commitment to excellence and its supportive community have always inspired me,” said Furman. “It is an honor to be able to contribute to a district that I hold in such high regard. I am eager to collaborate with our dedicated team and to continue fostering an environment where every student can thrive."

Before joining Half Hollow Hills High School West, Choit was an assistant principal at Centereach High School, and an assistant principal at both the building and district levels in the Sewanhaka Central High School District. She began her career as an English as a New Language (ENL) Teacher at Paul D. Schreiber High School in the Port Washington Union Free School District.

Choit holds a bachelor’s degree in the field of human services, education, and public policy from the University of Delaware, a master’s degree in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) from Hofstra University, and an Advanced Certificate in Educational Leadership and Administration from Long Island University at C.W. Post.

“I am honored and excited to join the Half Hollow Hills family as an assistant principal. The school and community are truly special places that I cannot wait to embrace and call my own,” said Choit. “It is my goal to inspire and challenge our students to be lifelong learners and help them feel successful, valued, accepted and safe at all times. I look forward to being a part of the administrative team and working together with our staff to provide the best possible education as well as memorable experiences for all of our students. Go Colts!”

Maria Belfiore joins the administrative team at Candlewood Middle School as an assistant principal after three years as an assistant principal at Half Hollow Hills High School East. As an administrator at High School East, Belfiore worked to enhance instruction, develop curriculum, and support the social and emotional well-being of students. Belfiore earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and French Literature and Language, as well as a Master of Arts in Teaching Social Studies Education at the State University of New York at Stony Brook. Her administrative credentials are from the College of Saint Rose.

“I am thrilled about this new administrative role at Candlewood Middle School and am extremely grateful for the opportunity to continue to serve as an Assistant Principal in the Half Hollow Hills Central School District where excellence is the norm and possibilities are endless,” said Belfiore. “Here’s to a new chapter dedicated to empowering students and fostering their limitless potential.”

Before joining Paumanok Elementary School as an assistant principal, Peyton was a special education teacher and instructional lead at PS 203Q Oakland Gardens School in the New York City Department of Education (NYC DOE). She recently completed the NYC DOE District 26 Aspiring Assistant Principal Fellowship where her school improvement work was focused on “Accelerating Literacy Development in All Students.” Peyton earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology and master’s degree in elementary education from Adelphi University, and completed the advanced School Building Leadership (SBL) and School District Leader (SDL) program through the Center for Integrated Teacher Education (CITE) program at The College of Saint Rose.

“My focus has always been student-centered teaching and supporting the academic and social-emotional growth of all of my students,” said Peyton. “I am committed to continuing my focus on these priorities at Paumanok, as well as building strong relationships with the students, their families, and our staff members.”

DiPreta brings a wealth of experience to her new role at Signal Hill Elementary School, having served as a school counselor in the public education system since 2005. For 14 years, DiPreta worked in the NYC DOE, followed by five years in the North Shore Central School District where she supported three elementary schools. As the sole elementary counselor in North Shore, DiPreta developed and implemented the district's elementary counseling curriculum. Throughout her career, she has collaborated closely with school administration to promote the academic, social and emotional development of students. DiPreta earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and a Master of Science in Education from CUNY Queens College, and a Post-Master's Advanced Graduate Certificate in Educational Leadership from Molloy University.

"It is my passion to encourage and motivate students to reach their maximum potential," DiPreta said. "I am honored to have the opportunity to help lead a school characterized by remarkable students, a dedicated staff and a supportive community. I feel privileged to be part of the Signal Hill family and I am committed to supporting the staff, students and families."

An education-oriented community with high academic expectations, the Half Hollow Hills Central School District is located in a residential area of 50,000 people in the central part of Long Island, approximately 40 miles from New York City. Providing for the education of approximately 7,200 students, the school district has five elementary schools, two middle schools and two high schools. Half Hollow Hills High Schools are fully accredited by the New York State Department of Education. The district is committed to providing all students with equitable opportunities to excel in academics, athletics and the arts.