New Principal Named For Horace Greeley High School

CHAPPAQUA, NY — The Chappaqua Board of Education appointed a new principal of Horace Greeley High School at its meeting Wednesday, less than a week after it announced that Principal Robert Rhodes resigned.

Andrew Corsilia will take the helm effective Aug. 1.

Corsilia has been with the District for 20 years. During his tenure, he served as an English teacher and assistant principal at Greeley, and is currently the principal of Seven Bridges Middle School.

Rhodes had been principal at the highly-rated high school in the tony Westchester suburb for six years.

He had been on paid leave since June 5 and Assistant Principal Laura Dubak was acting principal, according to The Examiner News.

District officials said:

With his intricate knowledge of all aspects of education as a classroom teacher, department chair, coach, club advisor, teacher mentor, committee member, and administrator, Mr. Corsilia knows as well as anyone the mission and vision of the Chappaqua Central School District and has a deep understanding of the teaching and learning practices the District values. As an administrator, he has successfully hired, supervised, mentored, counseled, evaluated, retained, and coached many members of a large staff and is deeply committed to creating a school community that is collaborative, reflective, and meets the needs of all learners.

“Over the years, Andrew has earned the respect and admiration of colleagues, students, and parents,” said Dr. Christine Ackerman, Superintendent of the Chappaqua Central School District. “His strong background as a secondary leader and his understanding of our high school’s culture and academic expectations makes him uniquely qualified to take Greeley to the next level.”

Corsilia earned his B.A. in English from the University of Vermont, his M.A. in teaching from Teachers College, Columbia University, and subsequently, he earned his M.Ed. in Building and District Leadership from Bank Street College.

The district's administrative shake-up started with the resignation of then-superintendent Lyn McKay in October 2016 during turmoil in the district over revelations of sex abuse and inappropriate behavior by former HGHS drama teacher Christopher Schraufnagel.

The district just named a new principal for Douglas Grafflin Elementary School. It will now search for a new principal for Seven Bridges Middle School. And it will need a new assistant principal at Horace Greeley, because Dubak is leaving the district for a post in Byram Hills.