Dater School Alum Returns As New Principal

When Andrew Matteo was a student at the in the 1990’s, it was a different place. He attended the old building that was on School Street (the current one was built in 2006), and the school taught kids in grades Kindergarten through fifth grade. It has since been changed to a 4-5 school.

Matteo, who started as the school’s new principal this July, said he is very excited to be back at the school. “It was such a big part of my upbringing, I’m glad that I can give back to it in a different way,” Matteo said of his decision to return to Dater. “I am glad to be here.”

Though he graduated from , Matteo spent his professional career in the Glen Rock School District. Over nine years, he taught second, third and fourth grades, and served as principal of the Central School in Glen Rock for the past two years.

“Glen Rock was a great experience, I loved it there,” Matteo said. He added, Ramsey is the “only place I would have left it for.”

The new principal, who holds degrees from both Boston College and the Teachers College of Columbia University, said he has several initiatives planned for the upcoming school year.

“We’re going to put a big emphasis on Character Education…on developing and focusing on the social and emotional part of fourth and fifth grade,” he said. That plays into the district’s emphasis on 21st century skills, he said, which include teaching group learning and creative problem solving skills.

The school’s administration will also focus on creating a community among students in the school. “They are only here for two years.” Matteo said. To help build relationships in the school, the PTO is providing each student with matching Spirit Day t-shirts that will be worn the first Friday of each month.

Dater, Matteo said, is “an important continuation of elementary school. It looks like a big building, but it’s not a big, intimidating place. We definitely focus on programs that are developmentally appropriate for 9, 10 and 11 year olds.”

Throughout the year, Matteo said he will work to be very hands-on in Dater’s classrooms. His main goal, he said, is to “get to know each kid on a personal level.”

Matteo is one of four new principals at Ramsey schools this year.  Others include two who previously worked in other roles at Ramsey schools – Dr. Michael Thumm at the high school and Stacie Poelstra at Smith Middle School – and one other new hire to the district, Gina Aliano, who worked in the Hawthorne School District, at Tisdale.

Continue to check Patch for Back-to-School updates at all Ramsey schools.

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