New Woodhull School Principal Loves His Job
Terming his first six weeks as principal of Woodhull Intermediate School “one of the best experiences of my life,” Jarrett Stein said the staff, students and parents have welcomed him with “open arms” since day one.
“I was told prior to my arrival that Woodhull is one of the best schools in the district and those people were right,” Mr. Stein said. The Huntington School Board appointed Mr. Stein in August as Woodhull’s principal for the 2009/10 school year. He had previously served as assistant principal of Huntington High School for nine years.
“In the short time I’ve been here I've observed many things,” Mr. Stein said. “I've seen a staff that goes above and beyond for their students. They genuinely care about their students’ happiness and do whatever they can to find out what makes each one of their students tick. They listen to find what interests each student and then try to differentiate their instruction to meet each student’s needs. They constantly seek the best academic practices that would benefit their students. It's so wonderful to see! They're truly a dynamic bunch and they make Woodhull School what it is.”
Prior to coming to the district, Mr. Stein worked as an administrative assistant in the Hicksville school district, as a school psychologist in the Massapequa and Sachem school districts and in the BOCES system, as a teacher assistant in Massapequa, Commack, Half Hollow Hills and BOCES and as a group leader and director of several summer camps. He has also served as the Amagansett school district’s director of student support services.
Many people pitched in to make the transition at Woodhull go as smooth as possible. “The first week, I was truly overwhelmed by the involvement of the PTA,” Mr. Stein said. “They're an amazing group of parents who volunteer their free time to make sure the children of Woodhull have as bright an experience as humanly possible. The PTA has already sponsored a fourth grade social, skate night, book fair, class parent tea, picture day, and has wonderful dances, movies and events planned for the rest of the school year. They do not get as much recognition and thanks as they deserve. The building certainly owes them a debt of gratitude. They inspire us all to be better parents.”
The rookie principal said he initially believed that “coming into this new role would be difficult for me to adapt and connect with my new students, as they are somewhat younger than the high school students. Well, that has not been the case! The students have been a godsend. They arrive in the morning with these incredible smiles and all say ‘good morning Mr. Stein’ when I welcome them every day.”
Teachers are quick to label the Woodhull youngsters as a hard-working and fun group to be around. “They're eager to learn new information and treat their teachers and peers with dignity and respect,” Mr. Stein said about the more than 500 students enrolled in the school. “Anytime I get overwhelmed with work or just exhausted, I go into a classroom and their smiles and comments always lift my spirits. They're caring, dedicated, intelligent youngsters who all have such a bright future ahead of them.”
Mr. Stein earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology at Fairleigh Dickinson University and obtained a Master of Science degree in school psychology at Long Island University in Brooklyn in 1996. He studied at Dowling College for his administrative certification.
“As for me, this is certainly a change,” Mr. Stein said about the transition from the high school to an elementary school. “I left a building that I fell in love with. I miss the high school students terribly. I still worry about their well-being and feel guilty about not being there for them. I know that they're in good hands with so many caring and truly gifted educators. The high school teachers will always have a place in my heart.”
He has embraced his new position at Woodhull, initiating several new programs, including random acts of kindness and teacher-student mentoring and has modified some procedures to address safety and student development needs.
“It has been a very busy time and I'm learning a great deal,” Mr. Stein said. “As you can see, I have had a fantastic start to the school year and couldn't be any happier with the principalship. Woodhull is an outstanding place to go to school, work or just visit and I feel so lucky just to be a part of it!”
All graphics, photographs, and text appearing on the Huntington Public Schools home page and subsequent official web pages are protected by copyright. Redistribution or commercial use is prohibited without express written permission. Comments or Questions? email the Public Information Office