Piccolino and Cass Recommended to Head John Jay High School

Katonah-Lewisboro School District Schools Superintendent Andrew Selesnick is recommending that John Jay High School assistant principals Kim Piccolino and Gil Cass be appointed as interim co-principals for the remainder of the 2015-16 academic year.

The two stepped in to run the school following the abrupt resignation last month of Principal Jessica Godin. Selesnick intends to make the recommendation at the next Board of Education meeting Nov. 12.

“My thanks to Mrs. Piccolino and Mr. Cass who, along with their colleagues, have stepped up to keep the high school running smoothly through this transitional period,” said Selesnick in a statement. “Their appointment as interim co-principals will ensure that all operations of the high school run smoothly for the remainder of this year. They will do this work while also maintaining significant portions of their assistant principal responsibilities.”

The search for the school’s next permanent principal will begin in January, according to Selesnick, and prior to that, the district will begin gathering input from all stakeholder groups as to the desired characteristics of the next leader.

“Now is not the time to start the search for a permanent principal because we will want to attract the best possible candidates and, typically, currently employed administrators do not want to inform their districts this early in the school year that they’re considering leaving,” said Selesnick. “Given the strength of our existing administrative staff, and given the number of transitions our high school has experienced in recent years, I feel strongly that we do not need the additional transition of a new interim principal at this time.”

Once the search begins, stakeholders will be involved in the process. Candidates will be solicited “from across the region and the country, using all available tools to spread the word about the vacancy.” The selection process itself will consist of several rounds, and will be an “appropriately rigorous screening.” As the time draws closer, the district will invite stakeholders to informational meetings at which time additional detail about the search will be shared.

“I am well aware of the various leadership transitions our district has undergone in recent years,” said Selesnick. “It is critical that we take a thoughtful, thorough approach to this next search, to be sure we find the best possible principal to lead our high school into the future. We are committed to searching until such a candidate is identified.”

Both Piccolino and Cass are experienced administrators with complementary skill sets, according to the district. The job of high school principal is expansive; their combined skills, wisdom, and familiarity with the district will be important during this transitional period. They will assume different areas of responsibility and they will coordinate their efforts to be sure all decisions are made thoughtfully. The district is additionally searching for a temporary administrator who will pick up those assistant principal responsibilities that the new co-principals will necessarily need to drop.