By Robert Remler
to Florida where she possibly will work as an educator in that state.
The process of selecting her replacement has already begun. High School District Superintendent Ronald Valenti said he would like to start introducing candidates to the Board by May 1 and announce the appointment on May 8.
Dr. Valenti has already met with a group of teachers; parents and support staff to evaluate what qualities the new principal should possess. Dr. Valenti intended to have a similar discussion with students after the Christmas break.
Central High School's next principal should possess four qualities to fill the position at the oldest of Valley Stream's three high schools, according to Dr. Valenti. He indicated that he wants someone with "experience who can also bring in some innovative new ideas."
The candidate should also have a proven track record of increasing student achievement.
Thirdly, according to Dr. Valenti, Central's next principal should be a skilled evaluator of teachers. Dr. Valenti said the new principal would be asked to evaluate the performances of both tenured and new teachers.
Finally, Central's next principal will be someone "who has been successful in a culturally diverse community." Dr. Valenti said he wanted someone who "has a great sensitivity toward the broad range of diversity in Valley Stream."
Changing demographics
at Central High School
Just three years ago, during the 1997-98 school year, 76.8 percent of enrollment, or 674 out of 878 students at Central High School were identified as being white, according to a New York State report dated Dec. 11. Now, 61.4 percent, or 612 students out of a total enrollment of 996 was identified as white, according to the report.
Within the past three years the number of American Indian, Alaskan, Asian or Pacific Islander has grown from 70, or 8 percent to 107, or almost 11 percent. During that same period, the number of black students has grown from 55, or 6.3 percent of enrollment, to 150, or 15 percent. Similarly, the number of Hispanic students has grown from 79, 9 percent, to 127, or almost 13 percent.
Looking for a candidate
Dr. Valenti said that he hoped a diverse group of candidates would apply for the advertised position. "I would hope that it would include some minority candidates," said Dr. Valenti. "I would welcome that...I think it is very important that we begin to recruit more effectively in the minority community."
The principal's position at Central High School is being advertised in a variety of newspapers including educational journals. Additionally, Dr. Valenti said he is sending out letters to other superintendents as well as tapping into a network of graduate students that he has taught.
Concurrently, Dr. Valenti said that he would welcome applications from qualified individuals who are already working in the district. Presently, however there are no minority administrators in the high school district, according to Dr. Valenti.
What Central's next principal
should know
Central's outgoing principal said that the person chosen to replace her should be attentive to the diversity of students that make up the school's enrollment.
Paul Matuszewski, a senior at Central, said that the person chosen to replace Dr. Ziegler needed to be "a caring, kind person who walks through the school halls and makes themselves visible to the students." Mr. Matuszewski said that it was important that the new principal be someone "who, if they say they will do something, does it." He said that the ethnicity of the new principal did not matter in the selection process. "It's not supposed to be that way," said Mr. Matuszewski.
J.P. Montgomery, also a senior at Central, said that the new principal needed to be someone who would not impose a stringent set of rules on students. Mr. Montgomery said that rules presently in place such as suspension for excessive tardiness were unfair. He agreed with Mr. Matuszewski that the ethnicity of the new principal did not matter in the selection process.
