A new principal is coming to Flower Hill Primary School. Longtime building leader Marlon Small resigned his post effective Friday, September 1. The district is currently in the process of selecting a new principal and expects the successful candidate to formally assume the position in October.
Mr. Small is leaving Flower Hill to become assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction in the South Country school district. The Huntington School Board has appointed veteran administrator Paula Nickerson to serve as interim principal until a permanent replacement is in place.
Ms. Nickerson previously served in the district as leave replacement principal at Jefferson Primary School while Valerie Capitulo-Saide took time off for a child care related leave of absence.
Mr. Small began his career in the district in September 1999 as a fourth grade teacher at Huntington Intermediate School. Three years later he was named dean of students at the school, a position he held for a year before moving with his family to Georgia.
Returning to Long Island in July 2005, Mr. Small was hired as assistant principal of Birchwood Intermediate School in the South Huntington school district. He was named Flower Hill principal in July 2006.
“We thank Mr. Small for his dedicated service to the Flower Hill community over the past 11 years and congratulate him on taking the next step in his professional career,” Huntington Superintendent James W. Polansky said. “We are pleased to have Ms. Nickerson on hand to serve in interim capacity and look forward to introducing the next principal of the Flower Hill School this fall.”
Ms. Nickerson holds an undergraduate degree in English from SUNY Potsdam and a Master of Science degree in reading from the University of Scranton. She obtained her state administrative certification through SUNY Cortland.
Ms. Nickerson worked as a high school English and reading teacher in the Owego-Apalachin school district for 11 years before serving as assistant principal of Chenango Valley Jr.-Sr. High School for eight years. She later worked as an associate principal, interim principal, director of physical education, health and athletics and coordinator of pupil services in the Union-Endicott school district.
Ms. Nickerson was director of athletics in the Middle Country school district for six years and director of athletics and physical education at Bishop McGann-Mercy High School for three years. She has worked as an interim principal at Maplewood Intermediate School and Jefferson Primary School and as interim director of athletics in Greenport. She has also been an adjunct professor at Dowling College and Stony Brook University.