Huntington Celebrates it School Principals

October is National Principals Month and Huntington UFSD is celebrating the veteran educators who provide educational leadership at each of the district’s eight school buildings.

“As we celebrate Principals Recognition Month, I want to take a moment to express my deepest appreciation for the incredible dedication, leadership and hard work our principals bring to their schools every day,” Superintendent Beth McCoy said. “Their commitment to creating a positive, supportive, and enriching environment for both students and staff is truly inspiring. Our principals are at the heart of our educational community, guiding with vision and compassion, ensuring that every student has the opportunity to succeed. Thank you, principals, for your leadership, resilience and passion for education.”

Huntington UFSD’s principal corps includes Rochelle Brown (Huntington High School), Traci Roethel (J. Taylor Finley Middle School), Stephanie Campbell (Woodhull Intermediate School), Donna Moro (Jack Abrams STEM Magnet School), Dr. Michelle Richards (Washington Primary School), Valerie Capitulo-Saide (Jefferson Primary School), Rosecindy Siegel (Flower Hill Primary School) and Jill Amott-Erwid.

“October is National Principals Month and I’d like to take the opportunity to express my appreciation and admiration for the leadership of our school principals,” New York State Commissioner of Education Betty A. Rosa said. “We are very fortunate to have amazing school leaders here in New York State who work tirelessly to ensure their school provide a safe and welcoming environment for all students. Thank you to all of our principals for everything you do, not only this month but throughout the year, to help the children of New York State grow and thrive.”

Rochelle C. Brown has been Huntington High School’s principal since August 2024. She came to the district after serving as Uniondale High School’s assistant principal for the past three years. Prior to that she was an assistant principal at Roosevelt High School for nearly three years. She began her career as a science teacher in Queens.

Ms. Brown holds a Bachelor of Science degree in biology and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Spanish having earned both at City College of New York. She obtained a Master of Science in Education degree at Pace University and studied for her administrative certification at The College of St. Rose.

Traci Roethel has been principal of J. Taylor Finley Middle School since July 1, 2019. She was Woodhull Intermediate School’s principal for 5½ years after coming to Huntington from Candlewood Middle School in Dix Hills, where she was an assistant principal.

Mrs. Roethel earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in elementary education at Stetson University in Florida in 1992. She obtained a Master of Science degree in education with a specialization in math at Queens College in 2003 and completed an advanced graduate certificate in educational leadership at Stony Brook University in 2009.

Stephanie L. Campbell has been Woodhull Intermediate School’s principal since December 5, 2022. She earned an undergraduate degree at James Madison University in psychology and elementary education in May 1997 and a master’s degree at George Mason University in educational leadership in January 2005.

Prior to being named Woodhull’s principal, Ms. Campbell had been working as an elementary instructional coordinator at Ocean Avenue Elementary School in Northport since 2019. She was previously employed as at Ocean Avenue as a third grade and fifth grade teacher between 2014-2019.

Donna Moro has been principal of Jack Abrams STEM Magnet School since August 2016. She had been serving as the district’s STEM coach and elementary science coordinator for two years at the time of her appointment.

A member of the J. Taylor Finley Middle School faculty for many years, Ms. Moro taught Earth Science from 2005 through June 2014. She also spent time during the 2013/14 school year working as an instructional coach in the science department, including facilitating staff development, making a presentation on Huntington’s teacher leadership coaching model at a state conference, presenting to the Board of Regents on the structure and sustainability of the district’s teacher leadership coaching model and representing New York State in a leadership summit in Washington, DC.

Ms. Moro obtained a Bachelor of Science degree at the University of Hartford and Master of Business Administration and Master of Science in education degrees at Long Island University-C.W. Post. She obtained an advanced graduate certificate in school administration at Stony Brook University.

Dr. Michelle J. Richards has been principal of Washington Primary School since July 1, 2018. She obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in psychology at SUNY Albany and a Master of Science degree in childhood education at City University of New York-Lehman College. She earned a Doctor of Education degree in educational administration and supervision at St. John’s University. She studied for her state administrative certification at CUNY-Queens College.

At the time of her appointment in Huntington, Dr. Richards was an assistant principal in the Elmont School District since 2013 and an administrator there since 2009. She began her career as a general education teacher in New York City. She worked at Public School 107x (2001-03) and Lewis H. Latimer School-PS 56K (2003-06). She later taught in Elmont at Gotham Avenue School from 2006-09.

Valerie Capitulo-Saide assumed the position of principal of Jefferson Primary School on August 1, 2012. She came to Huntington after serving three years as principal of PS 101Q-The School of the Gardens in Forest Hills, Queens. She worked earlier as that school's assistant principal for two years.

Ms. Capitulo-Saide earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in creative studies-dance at Hofstra University. She pursued graduate level studies at LIU-C.W. Post College, obtaining a Master of Science in elementary education and a certificate in education administration-school building leader.

Prior to embarking on an administrative career, Ms. Capitulo-Saide worked in Community School District 26 in Bayside for two years as a dance teacher in a "literacy through the arts" program for students ranging from pre-kindergarten through ninth grade. She then taught grades three, five and six in elementary classrooms at PS 173Q and PS 213 in Bayside from 2001 to 2005.

Cindy Siegel has been principal of Flower Hill Primary School since July 6, 2022. She came to Huntington UFSD after a successful nine year run as assistant principal at PS 250 – George Lindsey Elementary School in Brooklyn.

Flower Hill’s educational leader obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in elementary education at St. John’s University in 1995. Ms. Siegel earned a graduate degree in elementary school at Adelphi University in 1997. She studied educational administration and supervision at the College of St. Rose, obtaining her state certification as an administrator.

Jill Amott-Erwig has been Southdown Primary School’s principal since August 2021. At the time of her appointment, Ms. Amott-Erwig had been serving as principal of PS 250 in Brooklyn. She was previously an assistant principal and lead teacher at PS 201 in Queens for five years.

Ms. Amott-Erwig earned undergraduate and graduate degrees at Long Island University-CW Post in 2004 and 2006, respectively. She also obtained her state administrative certification through studies at LIU-CW Post.

Southdown’s principal has worked as a third grade special education teacher, fifth grade general education teacher and K-5 elementary science teacher all at PS 305 in Brooklyn. She was a summer program supervisor and year-round recreation aide at the Town of Islip’s Sayville Community Center for 13 years.