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Schools

As Search Continues, Interim Principal Steps into Role at Port Jeff Elementary

Thomas Meehan will serve as principal for coming school year at Edna Louise Spear while search for permanent replacement goes on.

in Port Jefferson was faced with a unique challenge earlier this summer when after two years in the role. In the months that have followed, the district conducted a wide-reaching search but has yet to yield a permanent replacement. Instead, the district has elected to go with a one-year interim principal, Thomas Meehan, a man who has a long history in Port Jefferson as well in the Long Island school system.

Meehan, who retired in 2006 from Middle Country School District after 33 years of service, looks forward to the opportunity to work in Port Jefferson.

"I'm as excited as the teachers and students to be here," he said. "It's a great community, and the school district is something I've always been proud of in Port Jefferson."

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Meehan's background is all-encompassing, having worked for many years in school districts. During his time at Middle Country he was a teacher, coordinator of the Pre-Kindergarten program, Assistant Principal, and Principal.

As a high school student, he even worked for a time as a custodian at the elementary school here in Port Jefferson, when it was still known as "Scraggy Hill.”

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New York State approved a needed waiver, granting the elementary school the ability to offer the interim position to Meehan. The district will look to bring on a new principal after Meehan's interim time is served at the end of the 2011-2012 school year.

Although the appointment was not made official for the year until this month, Meehan was placed in his current role on July 20, and since then has worked to ensure "a successful, smooth opening for our students and faculty," according to Superintendent of Schools Kenneth R. Bossert.

The search was a priority for the school district, but as noted by Bossert, no candidates were the right long-term fit for Port Jefferson.

"We saw many fine candidates during the search process," Bossert daid. "None, however had all of the characteristics we desire."

In terms of what they are looking for, Bossert stated that the ideal candidate is "an experienced elementary building leader who has a strong knowledge of our programs, best practices, and has the desire to make a long-term commitment to our community."

The initial job posting was listed in multiple spots, including the district's Online Application System, Searchsoft for Educators, and Leadership 2.0, all of which were available for viewing through the tri-state area. Among the many that sought out the position, there were no internal applicants.

Although the search goes on, Meehan is excited for the year ahead.  He says that his multifaceted background is one of the positives that he brings to the table and this experience helps inform his practice.

"I can recognize a good lesson, hope to go into the classrooms a lot and I want to make safety a priority here,"  he said.

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