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Many Changes In Store For Hendrick Hudson Students

MONTROSE, N.Y. – A new interim superintendent and several new staff members will greet students in the Hendrick Hudson Central School District this first week of classes.

The new educators are joined by fomer Pace University education professor Brian Monahan, who is the new interim superintendent for the district. Monahan, who began work on July 1, will fill the vacancy left by the early retirement of Superintendent Daniel McCann.

Monahan has 40 years' experience as an educator and is the former coordinator of graduate programs in educational leadership and technology at Pace.

“My hope is to continue to build on the excellent work that has been done and provide careful and thoughtful leadership during a period of transition,” Monahan said. “I have enjoyed my recent three years as a professor but look forward to getting back into public school classrooms and seeing the positive things that happen when teachers, staff and members of the community work together to help students excel.”

The district will welcome nine new staff members. The positions replace retirements or, in some cases, are long-term substitute teachers.

Brad Fredman, who worked for the district as a part-time tennis coach for four years, takes a position as the high school gym coach. Thomas Yee, a part-time integrated algebra teacher, will be teaching primarily ninth-graders. Cassia Fox begins teaching as a full-time French and Spanish teacher after relocating from Charlotte, N.C.

Alicia Conte, a part-time Spanish teacher at Blue Mountain Middle School, and Kristine Zulla, a part-time English and social studies teacher at Hendrick Hudson High School, are also new hires. Dianna Pamisano will join the district's elementary schools as a physical therapist, while Katie Ostrye joins the staff as a psychologist.

For the first time in 15 years, the Hendrick Hudson High School Sailors football team will be welcoming a new head coach. Mike Lynch, who acted as co-head coach in the 2011 season, will take over as head coach in the 2012 season.

"Coach [Paul] Natale did a great job of letting his staff do their own thing," Lynch said. "I'm more hands-on with our coaching staff and also with our players."

Students will also notice roof improvements above a classroom wing in Buchanan-Verplanck Elementary School and the roof and skylights above the Hendrick Hudson High School gymnasium. The approximately $500,000 worth of repairs were approved by voters in a bond referendum last year.

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