Scott Oshrin loves the summer, but Southdown Primary School’s third year principal can’t wait to get started in his building. He anticipates an outstanding year once classes resume early next month.
“The Southdown faculty, staff and I are extremely excited to welcome our students back to school,” Mr. Oshrin said. “We are especially eager to meet and greet our new kindergarten friends. We had a busy summer preparing for what is sure to be another outstanding school year. Our mission at Southdown has always been clearly defined: We strive to increase academic achievement while guiding students to build positive peer relationships in a safe and nurturing environment.”
Southdown’s principal since July 1, 2014, Mr. Oshrin earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in sociology at Ithaca College in December 2004 and a Master of Science in elementary education at Dowling College in August 2006. He obtained state certification as an administrator through Stony Brook University in August 2012.
Mr. Oshrin said some of the areas of focus during the new school year will include:
• Continue building relationships with parents/families. “We will work to meet this goal by inviting parents to join us in the learning process,” Mr. Oshrin said. “Regular two-way communication is critical to help ensure that students are provided with the opportunity to reach their potential.”
• Faculty members will work to create kinesthetic classrooms with guidance from Southdown physical education teachers Lynn Hefele and Adam Sherrard. “Research suggests that active minds and bodies lead to an increase in student performance,” Mr. Oshrin said. “We will be engaged at faculty meetings in thoughtful professional development aimed at planning lessons that get our students moving during the learning process. I also plan to allocate funds toward the purchasing of equipment for students and professional reading material for staff that will support this goal.”
• Southdown faculty and staff members will continue to tailor instruction to meet the individual learning needs of each and every student in their classroom. “Every child is different and learns at their own pace and in their own way,” Mr. Oshrin said. “Our goal is to meet children at their readiness level so they can achieve success each and every day.”
Scott Oshrin is in his third year as
Southdown School's principal.
It’s shaping up to be a great year at Southdown School. “We have many exciting events coming up at the start of school, including a block party, socials, back to school night and more,” Mr. Oshrin said. “We hope parents join us every chance they get. We are a family at Southdown and I am very excited to welcome everyone back.”
Now in his third year as principal, Mr. Oshrin feels at home. “I would like to thank the Southdown community for allowing me to serve as principal,” he said. “I consider myself the luckiest man in the world to work with the best group of students, talented and smart faculty/staff and to have the support of such a dedicated group of parents.”
Prior to coming to Huntington, Mr. Oshrin served as assistant principal of Birch Elementary School in the Merrick School District for three years. He spent five years as a classroom teacher and as a math and reading academic intervention services teacher at James H. Vernon Elementary School in the Oyster Bay-East Norwich Central School District.
Mr. Oshrin was the principal of the 2012 summer special education program at Theodore Roosevelt Elementary School in Oyster Bay-East Norwich. He also served as the varsity tennis coach, JV boys’ basketball coach and seventh grade girls’ softball coach during his time in the district.
Earlier in his career, Mr. Oshrin worked as a second and sixth grade leave replacement teacher in Hauppauge at Pines Elementary School and Hauppauge Middle School.