New MHS Principal Aims to Create Informed Student Body

Although she won’t officially start work until the fall semester, newly appointed Mamaroneck High School (MHS) Principal Elizabeth Clain spoke to local residents last week about the educational ideologies that will guide her in her new role.

One of her goals is to create active, informed citizens, an objective that is closely aligned with the purpose of the LWV, which encourages active participation in government and public policy. She aims to create a student body that is in the habit of acting, talking “and—yes—even making trouble,” she said with a smile, hinting at the creation of future community activists. 

Clain has a unique perspective as an expat, having been born and raised in what was formerly known as Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) for the first 12 years of her life, before settling in New York. Perhaps stemming from her experience as a newcomer to this country, Clain hopes students will think critically and not blindly conform, be empathetic and refrain from stereotyping. “Who asks questions like, ‘Why does our book use the word massacre to describe what most historians agree was an Armenian genocide,’” she asked rhetorically.

“These are the classrooms where we feel confident that young people are learning to make ethical choices,” Clain said, underscoring the need for cultural acceptance.

LWV Debates Director and former Village of Mamaroneck Village Justice candidate Alice Pernick, was excited about the prospect of having Clain on board as principal. Her daughter will be entering high school in the fall.

“We are new to the high school scene and I’d love to hear her perspective. I’ve heard really good things about her,” said Pernick.

The LWV will also play a role in educating MHS students on the inner workings of government, according to LWV President Elisabeth Radow.

“I offered to work on model legislation,” she said, indicating that she may be working with the MHS Model Congress club. “It would be a good opportunity to introduce legislation to George Latimer, and the students would get to see how the process works.”

The hope for next year, said Radow, is to make the LWV relevant to local residents, particularly when the issues hit close to home. “We’re here to serve the needs of the community, to look at the issues, to educate people so that we can make decisions to move the conversation along.”

Additionally, the following LWV directors and officers were voted on:

• President/Director: Elisabeth Radow
• VP Voter Services/Director/Board Member Nominating Committee: Peggy Jackson
• Secretary/Director: Mary Vozza
• Treasurer/Director: Margaret Corbett
• Debates/Director: Alice Pernick
• Events Chair/Director: Denise Seedor
• Legislative Liaison/Director: Liz Liscio
• Membership Chair/Director: Lisa Senter
• Publicity Chair/Director: Carolyn Pomeranz
• Programs Chair/Director: Michele Lewis
• Webmaster/Director: Judy Silberstein
• Voter Services: Sue Hertz
• Issues Researcher: Teri Schwartzman