Garden City Schools Appoint 2 New Administrators

GARDEN CITY, NY — On May 19, the Garden City Board of Education appointed Janine Villez as the district’s new director of pupil personnel services, and Eamonn Flood as the district’s new director of athletics, health and physical education.

“I am pleased to welcome Janine and Eamonn to our administrative group,” Superintendent of Schools Dr. Kusum Sinha said. “Each possesses a tremendous amount of experience and expertise in their respective area that will benefit our students and school community. We know they will make a positive impact here in Garden City. Most importantly, they are passionate about children.”

Villez has more than 20 years of diverse experience and expertise in the field of special education, having served in a leadership role in a public school setting since 2010. For the last five years Villez served as the director of elementary and preschool special education for the Longwood School District, supervising K-6 special education programs. Her work also included overseeing the after-school social skills program and parent counseling and training.

Among many other responsibilities, she worked collaboratively with out-of-district and CPSE providers to ensure the most effective programming for students while also working collaboratively with the district’s SEPTA on grant opportunities and regular events for students.

Prior to Longwood, Villez served in three different capacities for the Eastport-South Manor Central School District, including K-12 special education coordinator. She also served as the assistive technology coordinator and as a speech pathologist there. In addition to developing curriculum, she provided district-wide professional development, formulated policies and procedures and collaborated with colleagues as an instructional technology liaison.

Villez also served as a speech pathologist for the Connetquot, Half Hollow Hills and Huntington school districts, as well as for Nassau BOCES. She also founded and ran her own private speech pathology service, working with children and adults in a home-based setting.

“It is a true honor to become a member of the Garden City community,” Villez said. “I am committed to providing a high-quality and inclusive education to all students. Through collaboration with the community, administrators and staff within Garden City, I am truly excited to continue to provide students with educational opportunities that maximize their potential.”

With more than 20 years of experience working in a public school athletics and physical education environment, Flood brings a wealth of knowledge and many accomplishments to Garden City. For the last 11 years, he has served as the athletic director and physical education department chairperson at Great Neck North High School, where he supervised the high school interscholastic athletics program and physical education program for approximately 1,200 students. This included evaluating professional staff, hiring interscholastic athletic team coaches, developing schedules, planning and organizing awards ceremonies and many other duties associated with running the departments.

Flood began his career as an elementary physical education teacher in Great Neck. In this position he designed and taught an early childhood inclusion physical education program for preschool students. During his years in the district he also supervised Great Neck North Middle School’s athletic and physical education program on an interim basis and ran the district’s grade 3-8 summer sports clinic. From 1999-2007 Flood coached volleyball, track and field, and soccer at the middle school and high school levels in Great Neck. He was named Conference Coach of the Year by the Nassau County Soccer Coaches Association in 2004 and 2007, winning the county championship in 2007. Flood also plays soccer competitively and volunteers for the Great Neck Fire Department.

“The reputation and traditions of the Garden City Schools are that of excellence in the classroom and in athletic competition,” Flood said. “This success is only possible with outstanding teachers, coaches and staff, all working to support students and families who are equally committed to high levels of achievement. I am excited to join them in continuing this tradition of excellence.”