121203 Packer Collegiate Institute

Names Bruce Dennis Head of School

Brooklyn, NY (December 12, 2003) – The Trustees of Packer Collegiate Institute have named Dr. Bruce Dennis the school’s next Head of School, effective July 1, 2004, Cynthia Elliott, chair of Packer’s Board of Trustees, announced today.

“After an extensive search, Packer is honored and delighted to welcome such an experienced and talented individual to lead our school,” said Elliott. “This highly skilled educator will bring to Packer both a fresh perspective and a breadth of experience that, in combination, will enable Packer to reach its next level of excellence. Among his current and former colleagues, he is widely regarded as a leader and innovator who inspires faculty, challenges students, and understands parents. He is truly a standout among educators.”

Dr. Dennis is retiring this year from the New York State school system, having served for the past twelve years as superintendent of schools in Bedford, NY. Before Bedford, Dr. Dennis was superintendent of schools for a district in Long Island, and prior to that was principal of Scarsdale High School. Dr. Dennis started his career as an English teacher at Midwood High School in Brooklyn. He is a graduate of Brooklyn College and earned Masters and Doctorate degrees in Educational Administration from Columbia University.

According to Brian O’Neil, chair of the school’s search committee and vice chair of Board of Trustees, “Dr. Dennis’s superb abilities as an educator, rigorous personal standards of achievement, and talent for working collaboratively with all school constituencies are complemented by his energy, enthusiasm, warmth and humor. Those qualities, in addition to his commitment to good teaching and academic excellence, will serve to forward Packer’s mission well into the future.”