Former Marine Named Principal Of East Islip Elementary School

EAST ISLIP, NY — The East Islip School District has appointed Tom Sallee as the new principal of Ruth C. Kinney Elementary School, district officials said.

Sallee’s appointment will take effect Aug. 17. He replaces Janet Jones, who has become the district’s director of STEM, multi-tiered systems of support and accountability.

Sallee comes to East Islip from Massachusetts, where he has served as principal of Stoneham Central Middle School since 2022.

He previously worked as an assistant principal at Lynnfield Middle School from 2016 to 2022 and as a world history teacher and curriculum leader at Wilson Middle School in Natick from 2005 to 2016.

Before beginning his career in education, Sallee served as a U.S. Marine Corps intelligence officer from 2000 to 2004.

Sallee, who is moving to Kings Park, earned a bachelor’s degree in history from Brandeis University and a master’s degree in teaching and secondary education from Northeastern University. He received his administrative license from Boston University.

“I’m extremely excited to be joining the East Islip team as principal of RCK,” Sallee said. “I look forward to learning in detail about the strengths and traditions of the school and community, and helping to create a school where all of our students can thrive.”