Whittney Smith, the Mineola School District supervisor of guidance, will take over as high school principal next year to replace outgoing principal Ed Escobar who received a promotion to the central office, the Board of Education announced last week.
Escobar was raised to the newly-created position of assistant superintendent for human resources, where he will take on responsibilities related to teacher evaluations and staff development.
“Ed brings to the job a love of people, a gift of gab and the ability to welcome new people into the district,” Mineola school Superintendent Michael Nagler said.
Nagler said the board decided to go with Smith as Escobar’s replacement in part because of his preexisting experience with the district.
“Whittney brings a lot to the table,” Nagler said. “It makes it a lot easier when you’re [selecting] a proven factor to be confident that moving ahead is the right thing.”
Smith, who began at working at Mineola in 2002 as an assistant principal of the middle school, started his career as a special education teacher and athletic trainer.
Working in special education, Smith said he learned the importance of individualizing lessons to students, something now possible on a larger scale using technological advances.
“I’ve always found that by leveraging technology you can hold students to a higher standard. You can actually ask more of them,” Smith said. “I think that by using technology, you can leverage those four C’s (creativity, collaboration, communication and critical thinking) and really ramp up instruction.”
During his tenure as supervisor of guidance, the district increased the number of students taking college-level courses and instituted a college and career readiness program he played a key role in.
“I’ve been pretty proud of that accomplishment,” he said.
Smith said his strengths are his organization, ability to listen and detail-oriented work ethic.
“I have high expectations,” Smith said. “I believe that with the right support, children can achieve at high levels.”
Smith, the father of four, completed his undergraduate studies at Rutgers University and received master’s degrees from LIU post and Adelphi University.
In 2009, he received a doctorate from St. John’s University.
In his free time, Smith said he like to ski and scuba dive, a hobby he picked up in his early teens.
Escobar had served as principal of Mineola High School since 2005 and said he was excited for a “new challenge” at the district’s Board of Education meeting last week.
Board of Education President Artie Barnett and Smith commended Escobar’s personal, hands-on approach to education.
“Mr. Escobar has seen my three children through the doors of the High School,” Barnett said. “He knows every student that has been in that building — he knows my kids’ SAT scores from eight years ago.”
The assistant superintendent for human resources was created by consolidating two other central office positions.
Nagler said the reorganization would save the district just less than $50,000 and increase efficiency.
Reach reporter James Galloway by e-mail at jgalloway@theislandnow.com or by phone at 516.307.1045 x204. Also follow us on Twitter @theislandnow and Facebook at facebook.com/theislandnow.
