By Laura Lane
For four years, Linda Carter had been the assistant principal of East Meadow High School. When she was chosen to be the district's secondary summer school principal--which was held at Clarke Middle School--Carter became acquainted with the staff at Clarke and struck up what she called a colleague friendship with Diton.
"Ivy was always a very caring and nurturing individual," Carter said. "She referred to her staff as her family."
Carter said that she had originally been nervous coming to Clarke, an unfamiliar facility, but now knows that her placement was a blessing in disguise. After Diton's passing, Carter was chosen to be the new principal of Clarke Middle School, a position she accepted, believing that she could continue the fine work that Diton began. Carter also plans to help the middle school grow even further.
"Clarke is a school that has many wonderful programs in place," Carter said. "I want to continue these programs and work closely with the faculty to allow the programs to flourish."
Before joining the East Meadow School District, Carter worked as an English teacher, lead teacher for ninth grade and evening school principal at Freeport High School. She comes across as someone who is confident, sensitive and intelligent.
"I have worked with students in many different venues from children in [honors] to those that require a little more TLC," Carter said. "In order to be an effective educator, I feel you have to be involved with students full time. I will talk to students if it is family related or peer related as well."
On the second day of school, one of the sixth-graders asked Carter to help her open a jammed locker. Carter said that they both spent a great deal of time trying to pry the locker open and that she didn't mind a bit.
She felt great that the student was comfortable enough to ask her. When a custodian told the new principal that she didn't have to worry about helping children with their lockers, that he could instead, Carter assured him that she was happy to help.
"I want the students to feel that they can come to me anytime," Carter said. "The students are phenomenal here. They are eager and enthusiastic."
Although staff, students and parents at East Meadow High School are happy that Carter was offered a promotion, they feel a great loss.
"Carter's people skills are excellent," East Meadow High School Assistant Vice Principal James Hettenbach said. "Professionally, she's wonderful and she was like a sister to us. It was like a wonderful family, and she is missed."
Hettenbach said that Carter believed in a no-nonsense approach with the students and was relentless. He likened her approach as similar to how a parent would discipline their child.
"She would call kids to task, like if she saw a kid with a Walkman [which is not permitted on school grounds], there wouldn't be another chance," Hettenbach said. "She'd take it and the kids knew that."
Abby Rothschild-Kaplan has two daughters attending East Meadow High School. She had nothing but praise for Carter, remarking that she attended every PTA meeting, something that is not obligatory for an assistant vice principal. Rothschild-Kaplan also remembered the day that she saw Carter with a pair of binoculars around her neck.
"I asked her why she was dressed in sneakers and had the binoculars, and she said she was going on the roof to be in a sting operation," Rothschild-Kaplan said. "Mrs. Carter wanted to see if there were any drug deals going on."
Hettenbach remembered the situation and said that there had been a problem with a few students. He, Carter and a few other staff members had worked together to try to stop them.
"We had information that there was going to be a meeting of these kids, so like 'NYPD Blues,' the guys went into their cars," Hettenbach recalled. "Carter was on the roof directing the people in the cars. It was a success."
Rothschild-Kaplan said that parents are distraught that Carter has left EMHS. She said that the vice principal's availability to help in any way, even helping Kaplan discuss her daughter's schedules, made her feel that her daughters were safe.
"She is warm and doesn't talk down to parents or children. She's a gold mine," Rothschild-Kaplan said. "The high school's loss is the middle school's gain. I always knew she'd be a principal somewhere."
Rothschild-Kaplan also feels that Carter's friendship with Diton will benefit Clarke. "Ivy had a gift," Rothschild-Kaplan said. "If anyone can follow her, it would be Mrs. Carter."
Carter said that the middle-school staff have been warm and welcoming, and she looks forward to this year as the new principal. When asked what words of confidence she could offer the parents of Clarke Middle School students, she paused. When she spoke, her voice was warm, her words sincere.
"I have an open-door policy and care about your children. I want you to feel that the spirit of the Clarke family is going to remain as it has in the past and hope that will be an invitation to any parents and children to continue to participate as a Clarke family."
