Bartz Named Principal of Pleasantville High School (Updated)

Dawn Bartz was unanimously appointed principal of tonight by the district's Board of Education.

"I am honored and very proud to be the next principal of Pleasantville High School," she said.

Superintendent Mary-Fox Alter commended Salli Figler and the community search committee that aided in the process of examining candidates for the position.

"We have an amazing candidate," she said, adding the "there was a lot of consensus" within the committee to appoint Bartz.

"I want to welcome you and your family," said Fox-Alter to the new administrator.

Bartz currently serves as assistant principal at New Canaan High School in Connecticut, a position she has held since 2006.

In her current role, Bartz serves as chair of the Advanced Placement Committee, Social Studies Curriculum Review Project and High School Crisis Support Team, according to a biography distributed at the candidates' meeting. She also launched the Summer Advanced Placement Academy and New Canaan High School Leadership Program.

Board Trustee Lois Winkler revealed she visited, along with other members of the district, New Canaan High School to learn more about Bartz.

"One of the students said—and it was so moving—'[Bartz] sees us as we can be, not as we are right now,'" recalled Winkler, "and I thought that was a great thing for a high school principal."

Bartz's annual salary will be $172,500 and her position begins on July 1.

The district has imposed an instructional probationary period for the position, which expires on July 1, 2014.

Board members also praised and thanked Dr. Robert Hendrickson, who has been serving as interim principal of the high school for the past year.

"People are very much appreciative of your stewardship," Fox-Alter related to Hendrickson.

Bartz has a Bachelor's degree from the University of Rhode Island and Master's degrees from Columbia University and California State University.

Prior to serving in her current role, Bartz was a social studies teacher in Westport, CT.

The new principal has additionally worked as a reader for the College Board, as well as a writing instructor and teaching/history fellow at various colleges.

Bartz, along with Mark Bayer, an assistant principal at Horace Greeley High School in Chappaqua, were the two finalist candidates being considered for the position. They on May 5.

After the appointment, Bartz said, "I'm very excited to be part of the Pleasantville community and to be working with the students, the staff, the Board and the community."