New Principal Appointed At Westhampton Beach Elementary School

WESTHAMPTON BEACH, NY — Westhampton Beach Elementary School students will soon have a new principal.

Jeremy Garritano was appointed to the post, effective July 1; he will be replacing Lisa Slover, who is moving out of New York, the Westhampton Beach School District announced this week.

“We are pleased to welcome Mr. Garritano to the Westhampton Beach School District,” said Superintendent of Schools Michael R. Radday. “He brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the position.”

Garritano, of West Islip, comes to Westhampton from the Southampton School District where he has served as assistant principal of the elementary school since 2019, the district said. In his time at the elementary school, he was the 504 coordinator, instructional support team chairperson, and provided crisis prevention training to the elementary staff, officials said.

In 2020, he was designated as the administrator for remote instruction teams for kids in grades pre-K through 6; he designed, implemented, and supported new remote learning protocols that supported students and families during the pandemic, the district said.

Before his work in Southampton, Garritano served in the Riverhead Central School District, where he was a special education teacher. Along with teaching, he was a member of the Long Island Consortium for Excellence and Equity, facilitated instructional rounds throughout the district, and worked closely with the special education department to draft and update the district’s special education plan, district officials said.

He also served as coordinator of the science-based summer school program for English language learners, which aimed to prepare ELL students for the 2019-20 school year. In addition, he sat on a number of education committees, served as a science fair coordinator, and was a member of the district’s Parent University planning team, the district said.

Garritano holds his bachelor’s degree in government and policies and philosophy from St. John’s University, his master’s in childhood education from Dowling College, his administrative degree from the College of Saint Rose, and is currently working on his doctorate at St. John’s University, the district said.

“I am truly humbled by this opportunity and realize the incredible responsibility that has been entrusted to me, the children of Westhampton Beach Elementary. I am eager to begin my work getting to know each and every student and family while working to become ingrained in the deep-rooted traditions and values that are at the heart of the Westhampton Beach Elementary School, district, and community," Garritano said.