2 New Assistant Principals Join Walt Whitman High School

SOUTH HUNTINGTON, NY — Walt Whitman High School will welcome two new assistant principals for the upcoming school year, with Thomas DeMartinis and Danielle Rodrigues joining the school's administrative team, the South Huntington School District announced.

DeMartinis will serve as assistant principal for the ninth grade, while Rodrigues will oversee the 11th-grade class.

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Whitman uses a cohort-based administrative system in which assistant principals are assigned to a graduating class and remain with those students from ninth through 12th grade. District officials said the approach allows administrators to develop relationships with students and families while following students' academic growth throughout high school.

DeMartinis comes to Whitman after serving as the eighth-grade assistant principal at Stimson Middle School for the past two years. The move means he will continue working with many of the same students as they enter high school.

"This opportunity to move to the high school as an assistant principal was very unique for me," DeMartinis said. "Not only do I get to go back to my roots as a high school educator, but I get to do it while knowing two of the grades that are going to be in the high school at the same time."

DeMartinis began his education career more than a decade ago as a high school social studies teacher, teaching U.S. History and Government, Global History, Contemporary Social Issues and News Literacy.

He holds a bachelor's degree in history and political science from the University at Buffalo, a Master of Arts in Teaching from Stony Brook University and an Advanced Certificate in Educational Leadership from Long Island University.

"It's incredibly special because I got to see them as 7th and 8th graders, and now I get to watch as they continue to grow throughout their high school years," DeMartinis said. "Being able to get to know the students and their families over the long term will allow me to offer meaningful recommendations as they move through high school and beyond."

Rodrigues, meanwhile, has worked at Walt Whitman since 2011 as an English as a New Language Life Science and Biology teacher. She has also served as an assistant coach for the district's varsity and junior varsity flag football teams.

Earlier this year, Rodrigues took on her first administrative role as assistant principal for South Huntington's new summer school program.

Rodrigues earned a Bachelor of Science in Public Relations from Syracuse University in 2006 and initially worked in the corporate world before deciding to pursue a career in education. She later earned a Master of Science in Adolescence Education with a concentration in biology from LIU Post.

"I'm very excited about this move because I'm at a stage in my career where I want to have a broader influence and support people," Rodrigues said. "Now I get to help an entire grade level, their parents, the whole community, my staff, and my admin team."

Rodrigues said her experience at Whitman has given her an understanding of the school community and its families.

"My students know I am invested in them as people," she said. "I want to help them find their potential and reach expectations they didn't think they were capable of."

Principal Dr. John Murphy said both administrators bring established relationships with students and families that should help ease their transitions into their new roles.

"Mr. DeMartinis is a huge resource for us," Murphy said. "He comes in already having established relationships with both parents and students at Stimson. Being able to make those connections quickly will make the transition into high school all the better for that freshman class over their four years here at Whitman."

Murphy also pointed to Rodrigues' years of experience at the high school.

"Danielle Rodrigues has been a teacher, coach, and mentor to many of our students," Murphy said. "So while she's new to her administrative position, she's certainly not new to the building. She already has strong connections with former players and students as she steps into the role of assistant principal."

The appointments fill vacancies left by two administrators who have taken other leadership positions in South Huntington.

Dr. Scott Muller was appointed the districtwide Supervisor of Science, Engineering, and Research, while Dr. Kendall Richards was named Supervisor of South Huntington Academy, the district's alternative program for high school students with Individualized Education Programs or social-emotional learning needs.