082605 Fran Lahey named as interim principal
BY ABBY LUBY
Fran Lahey, longtime teacher and administrator, was appointed interim principal at Fox Lane High School. Mr. .Lahey is filling the position recently vacated by former principal Stephen Falcone. Mr. Lahey will be interim principal for the 2005-06 year.
In a letter from Bedford Central School District superintendent Debra Jackson to parents, Dr. Jackson wrote that Mr. Lahey "has a wealth of knowledge of our community and has a strong commitment to our students. His presence, along with the continued leadership of Mr. Brian Davidson, Mrs. Robin Schamberg, the department coordinators, and the rest of the staff at Fox Lane, will ensure a smooth transition."
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He's been a major player on the leadership team," said Robert Cooper, assistant superintendent of personnel for the district. "It's great for the school to have someone who knows the score, knows the players, and knows the landscape, both physically and emotionally. He's also a great guy — so child-centered and warmhearted. A real gentle-man and a good tennis player, too."Mr. Lahey was a science teacher at Fox Lane Middle School from 1974 to 1988, and from 1988 to 1990 he was a science teacher and dean of students at Fox Lane High School. He was assistant principal at Fox Lane High School from 1990 to 2003.
He has a certification in biology, chemistry, and general science for grades seven to 12, as well as an administrative certification. His children all attended Bedford schools.
Mr. Cooper said the search for a full-time principal will begin. "We hope to have a person in place long before July 1," he said. "We expect to start the new principal search in a couple of months. We will set up focus groups so that everyone can get a feel for the candidates and we can get their input."
In the same letter to parents, Dr. Jackson also said that Fox Lane Middle School principal AnneMarie Berardi will be taking an emergency family leave in the month of October. The let-ter further stated that Richard A. Denton will serve as interim principal of Fox Lane Middle School.
Mr. Denton is a retired middle school principal from Washingtonville Middle School in Washingtonville, in Orange County, and has been a middle-level educator for 32 years.