John Paulding School Has a New Principal

Tarrytowns Public Schools Superintendent Howard Smith has appointed Maureen Barnett as the new principal of John Paulding School, starting July 1, 2013.

"She's very warm," said Board of Education Vice President Mimi Godwin at Saturday night's Foundation benefit. "Very personable; she's a great fit." 

This follows the retirement of Michelle Milliam, whose name now graces a sign at the entrance school playground, and an interim year with Rosemary Prati taking the position after her retirement from Morse.

Barnett received a BA and an Master's in education from Herbert H. Lehman College in the Bronx and advanced certification in educational administration from Hunter College in New York City.

She comes with nine years of principal experience in Spring Valley, in the East Ramapo Central School District of Rockland County. She worked here as principal at Hempstead Elementary School there for four years, where she will finish out this school year, and Merrill L. Colton Intermediate School (now closed) for five.

From the Hempstead school’s website:

Hempstead is a primary school serving approximately 550 K-6 children. We take great pride in the diversity of our population. Collaboratively, we will create an environment which fosters life-long learning in an ever-changing, richly diverse society. We will enable children to meet high standards of learning by providing a well-balanced curriculum that ensures children's cognitive, creative, and social growth, with an uncompromising commitment to excellence. We guarantee that all children will advance to higher levels of learning to meet the challenges of the 21st century.

Barnett shares with her Hempstead “Heroes” a regular message online, such as this one most recently: 

Before you speak…THINK!

T – is it true?

H – is it helpful?

I – is it inspiring?

N – is it necessary?

K – is it kind?

Be thoughtful and kind HEROES always!

Barnett starts in the TUFSD system with a three-year probationary period which will bring her through June 30, 2016. Her salary will be $150,000. 

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