Tarrytown Schools Names New Sleepy Hollow HS Principal

SLEEPY HOLLOW, NY — The Public Schools of the Tarrytowns announced the selection of a new principal for Sleepy Hollow High School.

Deborah Brand will take over as principal of Sleepy Hollow High School at the end of the 2020-21 school year.

A lifelong educator, Brand joins the district from the Highland Falls-Fort Montgomery Central School District in Orange County, where she served as high school principal since 2017. In her role, she was instrumental in implementing a STEM curriculum through a Robotics Club, AP Calculus BC, and an AP Research program and coordination of workshops with the United States Military Academy at West Point.

Brand also oversaw the enhancement of school culture through Safe School Ambassadors (a student-based, nationally accredited anti-bullying initiative), a Student Advisory Committee, a Student Diversity Panel, the School Beautification and Culture Committee, student recognition programs, and restorative justice practices.

Before that, she was assistant principal at Yorktown High School in Yorktown Heights for four years. There, she supervised and evaluated general education and special education English and Social Studies teachers, the Guidance Department and the Music Department, among other responsibilities.

Earlier in her career, Brand taught English, oversaw the Humanities Department, served as English Department chairwoman, and coached basketball in several schools in New York, Louisiana and New Jersey.

Superintendent Chris Borsari said he was thrilled to have Brand join the district's administrative team.

“Her range of experience in the classroom and as an administrator, combined with her leadership in several areas that are priorities in our district, make her an ideal addition to our district," he said, "and I look forward to her partnership.”

Ms. Brand says that every person with whom she spoke during the interview process expressed tremendous pride for the school, the district and the community.

“The district embraces the idea that growth and improvement are essential in addressing the challenges that students and families face today,” she said. “That kind of mindset mirrors my own as an educator and as a person. I hope that I will be able to help Sleepy Hollow High School and Tarrytown UFSD meet the needs of all our stakeholders, and I cannot wait to learn from and with the people of Tarrytown.”

Brand holds several licenses and memberships, including membership in the Association for Curriculum and Supervision Development and Kappa Delta Pi. She has also pursued coursework in differentiation of instruction for English Language Learners.

Brand earned her bachelor's degree in English with a minor in education from Vassar College, a master's degree in educational administration and supervision from Rutgers University and a certificate in educational administration and school district leadership from Canisius College in Buffalo. She is currently a doctoral candidate in Educational Leadership at CUNY-Hunter College.

She takes over the position from Tracey Smith who will depart the district at the end of the current school year.

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