White Plains Selects New Assistant Principal At Elementary School

WHITE PLAINS, NY — The White Plains Board of Education appointed Joseph Onativia to the position of assistant principal at George Washington School at a special meeting in September.

Onativia comes to White Plains from South Orangetown, where he was assistant principal of the middle school there for the last three years. He has 20 years of experience as a teacher, K-6 instructional coach and assistant principal.

He has a bachelor of arts degree from SUNY Oneonta and a master’s degree from Johnson State College. He also holds certification as a school and district leader from Manhattanville College.

Superintendent of Schools Dr. Joseph L. Ricca said he looks forward to working with him.

“Mr. Onativia is an excellent choice, selected from among 150 applicants, and has extensive experience combined with a focus on equity,” he said.

Onativia replaces Brendan McCarthy who has moved on to Mamaroneck Avenue School as assistant principal in a reassignment of the elementary principals.

Apart from Onativia and McCarthy, the school year opened with the following changes: Dr. Kimberly Crawford is at Church Street School (from Ridgeway), Robert Spedafino at Post Road School (promoted from a teaching position), Merle Jackson, Ridgeway School (from Post Road) and Suzanne Lasser, Eastview Middle School (from Post Road).