November 30 Departure—

NHS Principal Resigns, Saying ‘Time Is Right’

By Larissa Lytwyn

Over the course of his 34-year career at Newtown High School, the past 16 as principal, Bill Manfredonia, 55, has guided the school through extraordinary highs, including its recognition as a Blue Ribbon School of Excellence by the US Department of Education, as well as daunting challenges, such as the management of an ever-increasing student population.

Mr Manfredonia’s Newtown High School career will come full circle as he serves his last day on November 30.

On December 1, he will become principal of Edgemont Junior/Senior High School in Scarsdale, N.Y.

Edgemont, comprised of approximately 900 students in grades 7 through 12, is widely recognized as one of Westchester County’s academically strongest public schools.

“I feel that after a certain number of years, it is time for new leadership,” said Mr Manfredonia. “I’ve given this decision a lot of thought over the past year. I just feel like the time is right,” he said, adding that Newtown High School is preparing to undergo a fresh cycle of changes.

“Next September, Newtown High School is up for its ten-year accreditation,” Mr Manfredonia noted. “We always do the largest part of our preparation approximately a year ahead. I feel that we’re ready.”

In addition, the town is in the process of planning how to manage the school’s burgeoning student population. This year, the school is at capacity with approximately 1,650 students.

Mr Manfredonia supports an addition that could foster a more intimate setting within a campuslike atmosphere.

“We just have to find a place to put it,” he acknowledged with a wry smile. “That’s the hard part.”

Mr Manfredonia said he would miss countless things about the high school, above all its students and “outstanding” faculty. He praised the “collegial” relationship between faculty members.

“When I became principal, one of my goals was to create a more cohesive environment for teachers,” he said. Among his innovations was the creation of a centralized faculty office on the second floor of the high school.

“We have an amazing staff,” he said. “They way they work together and support each other is very special.” He credits the lion’s share of his professional success, in fact, to the faculty.

“The teachers are entirely dedicated to the students,” he said.

Many of his colleagues say the same thing about Bill Manfredonia.

“Bill is a wonderful administrator,” said Assistant Superintendent of Schools Alice Jackson. Ms Jackson worked with Mr Manfredonia while he was assistant principal and she served as chair of the school’s special education department.

“He would do anything he could possibly think of for the students to be successful,” she said.

Superintendent of Schools Evan Pitkoff praised the principal for putting “countless hours” into his job.

Mr Manfredonia acknowledged that at times he worked 70 to 75 hours a week.

Applying a hands-on administrative approach, Mr Manfredonia spends his weekdays interacting with staff and students. Whether the first day of the academic year or an average school day, Mr Manfredonia can frequently be spotted in the hall, chatting with students.

“I do the majority of my paperwork at night and on the weekends,” he said.

He credited his family for their immense support.

“My wife, Leslie, has always been very understanding and supportive,” he said. “She has been amazing. She is a great ally.”

Mr Manfredonia also praised his daughter, 22-year-old Daisha, a 2004 graduate of Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tenn., and son, Devon, a 2004 Newtown High School graduate beginning his freshman year at Vanderbilt.

“It’s very unusual in this day and age for an educator to stay at one school,” said Dr Pitkoff.

Mr Manfredonia began his career teaching history at Newtown High School in 1970 after serving in the marines.

Though he had applied for the position before joining the Marine Corps, he was guaranteed a job upon his return.

Over the years, Mr Manfredonia rose to serve as assistant principal and finally as principal.

His long career at Newtown High School, said Dr Pitkoff, made him “a real part of the [Newtown] community.”

Mr Manfredonia will continue to reside in Newtown, his home of 26 years, and commute the hour to Westchester County.

He said he was fairly knowledgeable of the Scarsdale area; though born in New York City, he was raised in Westchester County.

“Edgemont seems to be very similar to Newtown in terms of its educational values,” said Mr Manfredonia. “There seems is a real emphasis on quality education as well as a high level of community involvement, both of which are strong Newtown characteristics.”

Superintendent of Edgemont Schools Nancy Taddakin said that she was very “impressed” with the Newtown principal.

“He was very articulate, intelligent, and seemed to be a true student advocate,” she said.

Edgemont is a two-mile district in Scarsdale.

The district has two elementary schools that run grades K through 6.

Edgemont Junior/High School is set on an 80-acre campus Mr Manfredonia described as collegiatelike.

“The Edgemont campus consists of 12 buildings interconnected by covered walkways,” said Ms Taddakin. “It’s truly a beautiful campus.”

She said the school emphasizes strong relationships between itself and the community, as well as between faculty and parents and students and adults.

In an aim to prevent substance abuse and other issues, Edgemont works with a community task force comprised of students, faculty, and members of the community — similar to Newtown’s Prevention Council.

The school’s Code of Conduct, which includes substance abuse policy, is currently in the process of being revised by administration, said Ms Taddakin.

While the Newtown Board of Education recently approved a revised substance abuse policy, recommending expulsion for a student’s second offense, Ms Taddakin described Edgemont’s policy as “incremental.”

“It’s not a cookbook of recipes,” she said. “We encourage our students to make good decisions.” 

As part of creating a community of positive role models, Edgemont trains volunteering students to become peer leaders.

“We really strive to foster positive, strong relationships between our younger and older students,” said Ms Taddakin.

At Edgemont, seventh and eighth grade students deemed socially and academically able have the opportunity to take accelerated courses with their high school-aged peers.

“There are also fewer educational transitions due to our smaller environment and the structuring of our district,” Ms Taddakin said.

Mr Manfredonia said he still had a lot of energy left and was eager for the challenge of Edgemont.

Through his educational career, he said, he learned how much of an impact teachers could make in their students’ lives. “I will never forget seeing a New York Times profile of a former student I had,” Mr Manfredonia said.

The student had credited Mr Manfredonia as one of two teachers who had helped motivate and inspire her during her high school days.

“I never knew I made that much of a difference,” he said. “It’s very humbling.”

Board of Education Chairman Elaine McClure said Mr Manfredonia’s departure was a “sad” one.

“He really dedicated himself to his students,” she said. “He was available at all hours, and always attended virtually every education [related] meeting that he could. He was a major part of the school community.”

Mr Manfredonia would have been eligible for a 70 percent pension after 35 years of teaching under the state of Connecticut’s Teacher Retirement Board.

Having serving 34 years, Mr Manfredonia will receive a 66 percent pension, said Dr Pitkoff.

The Connecticut pension averages the three highest salaries of the teacher or administrator’s career; in Mr Manfredonia’s case, the number will be drawn from his service the last three years.

Last year, Mr Manfredonia made $125,896.

Continuing his service out of state allows Mr Manfredonia to accept a full salary, something he would not have been able to do had he chosen to teach at another district in Connecticut.

Ms Taddakin said that Mr Manfredonia’s annual salary, as of December 1, would be approximately $145,000.