Date: Fri 12-Mar-1999

Publication: Bee

Author: ANN

Quick Words:

Weintraub-resigns

Full Text:

Middle School Principal Resigns

(with photo)

BY ANN MARIE COHEN

The Board of Education met in executive session Tuesday evening to approve the

resignation of Newtown Middle School Principal Les Weintraub. He will leave on

April 16.

Mr Weintraub has accepted the position of superintendent at the Garrison

Public School District, Garrison, New York. Mr Weintraub will continue to

reside in Danbury and commute to his new position. The Garrison school

district is located in northern Westchester County and is relatively small

with a school population of approximately 300 children in grades kindergarten

through grade eight.

Mr Weintraub has been the principal of Newtown Middle School for the past five

years. Previously he was the principal of Ramopo Ridge Middle School, located

in Mahwah, New Jersey.

Reflecting on his days at the middle school, Mr Weintraub said he is

particularly proud that the Newtown Middle School was awarded the Middle

School Award for the entire state last year. It encompassed the work that had

come up from the lower grades to grades six through eight.

Les Weintraub felt that the most difficult part of leaving was constructing

his letter of resignation. He has felt a deep emotional attachment to the

school and stressed just how much he looked forward to coming to work each

day.

"Newtown has a sense of family and the parents and teachers have a sincere

interest in working collaboratively to achieve academic success for the

student. I hope to duplicate the knowledge I have learned and apply it to my

new appointment from the perspective of a leadership role.

"Dr John Reed, superintendent of Newtown schools has been a mentor and a

friend to me," Mr Weintraub continued. "I am honored to have worked on his

team."

Mr Weintraub has aspired to become a superintendent. His professional and

graduate work have all centered on administrative and supervisory work. The

move was a tough decision for him and was contingent upon a superintendent's

position becoming available.

Assistant Principals Virginia King and Frank Arnone will take on most duties

assumed by Mr Weintraub.

"The staff will miss what Mr Weintraub has brought to the school. He is

receptive to new ideas and has a willingness to compromise and look at what is

best for the student," said Anna Wiedemann, administrative assistant at

Newtown Middle School.

Dr Reed said that in the last five years he has seen the middle school become

a more effective place for learning and that can be attributed, in part, to

Les Weintraub's involvement. "Personally, I would have preferred that he stay

with us, but it is a unique opportunity and I understand. I am sorry he is

leaving and I will miss him," Dr Reed concluded.