With Huntington High School orchestra teacher Nicole Castaldo set to temporarily step away from her position for child care related reasons, the group is set to get an interim leader.
Huntington School Board members voted unanimously to appoint Megan Monaghan as a long-term substitute teacher to fill in during Mrs. Castaldo’s absence. The appointment will run from approximately January 26 through March 26.
A graduate of East Islip High School, Ms. Monaghan obtained an undergraduate degree in music education at SUNY Potsdam’s Crane School of Music in 2017. She has been working as a private instructor at Grace Music School in Melville since last October.
“I am thrilled to welcome Megan to the Huntington music department,” said Eric Reynolds, district director of fine and performing arts. “Completing her music education and strings studies at the Crane School of Music and teaching at the National String Project in Potsdam, Megan possesses tremendous musicality, connects with students and shows great command in front of the ensembles when she is on the podium.”
Ms. Monaghan was the vocal director at A Shared Arrangement and a volunteer at CLEAR Creative Arts Kids Camp, both in Potsdam.
District officials reviewed 11 applications from candidates and pre-screened each of them. Three applicants were extensively interviewed prior to Ms. Monaghan being recommended to trustees for appointment.