NORTH SALEM, N.Y. - North Salem Middle/High School will be bidding a fond farewell to its principal, Vince DiGrandi, at the end of the year.
DiGrandi was appointed on Tuesday, May 5, as the Mahopac Central School District’s new superintendent. He assumes that post in Putnam County on July 1.
After voting to accept DiGrandi’s resignation at its Wednesday, May 6, meeting, the Board of Education appointed Dr. Roy Martin as the middle/high school’s next principal.
(Martin is currently the principal of the Pequenakonck Elementary School.)
The board then tapped PQ’s assistant principal, Dawn Snowdon, as the school’s new principal.
Snowdon will help lead the search for her replacement, Superintendent Dr. Adam VanDerStuyf said in a letter sent to parents on Thursday, May 7.
The letter contained two “entry planning surveys” developed by Martin and Snowdon to help facilitate their transition to their new administrative roles.
‘BITTERSWEET’ MOMENT
VanDerStuyf congratulated DiGrandi, who’s been with North Salem for nine years, and thanked him for “leading the school and the district to a better place from where it came.”
“It’s a bittersweet moment for me -- for all of us -- knowing that he’s going to transfer his skills and abilities to Mahopac,” VanDerStuyf said, adding that he was comforted by the thought that folks here will still have the “ability to work very closely with him, in a superintendent’s capacity.”
Board President Brandy Keenan jokingly assured DiGrandi that she also had “some things to say. It’s about three pages, single-spaced, Times New Roman, 8-point font. I’ll send it to you later.”
DIGRANDI REFLECTS
It was an emotional time for DiGrandi as well.
While he’s very excited about leading the school system that he had gone through, it’s hard to leave behind the colleagues, parents, students, and community members who’d been so supportive over the past nine years.
When DiGrandi broke the news about his impending departure to staff, he couldn’t help but get “a little teary-eyed.”
One of his fondest memories was of when North Salem pulled together to organize a “quarantine style” graduation for the Class of 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Held at the Four Brothers Drive-In Theater in Amenia, it featured on-screen speeches, socially distanced diploma handoffs, pizza, and a movie.
DiGrandi still treasures a heartfelt letter one of the grads had written to thank him for his part in preserving the milestone ceremony.
His parents moved to Mahopac when he was just a toddler.
DiGrandi went through the school system there, graduating high school in 1989.
He found it amusing that his new office was once his 7th-grade classroom and that the stage on which Mahopac announced his appointment as superintendent was where he once took an embarrassing tumble while portraying “Alfie the Head Elf” in a school play.
“I remember it like it was yesterday. Talk about going full circle in life,” the 54-year-old mused.
DiGrandi’s mom was a “lunch lady” in the district and his dad was a police officer so, natch, there wasn’t much opportunity for misbehaving in school as a kid.
“It was a tight, straight line,” he reflected.
Whether it’s here or in Mahopac, DiGrandi’s grateful for great educators and good neighbors.
He recalled the outpouring of sympathy and support when his wife, Dana, passed away in 2023 at the age of 53.
For a district its size, North Salem packs a big wallop across all areas whether that’s academics, athletics, or the arts, DiGrandi said, pointing to the boys soccer team’s recent back-to-back state championships.
“We joke that we’re small but mighty,” he said.
DiGrandi, “first and foremost,” will miss his students.
“It’s humbling, watching them grow and mature, come into their own,” he said, adding “There’s nothing better.”
He praised his North Salem colleagues as “phenomenal” educators.
“For our size, we do such creative work. No one’s complacent. We adjust and adapt to needs all the time,” DiGrandi said.
Although he will be focusing on the hard work ahead, he won’t soon forget his experiences here.
“You spend nine years in any place and it becomes part of you … and vice versa,” DiGrandi said.
RETURN OF THE NATIVE
DiGrandi had been principal of Mahopac Middle School from 2013-2017 before coming to North Salem.
As principal of North Salem Middle/High School, DiGrandi oversaw a campus ranked No. 260 nationally and No. 34 by U.S. News, with a 96-98 percent graduation rate while managing budget and staffing for grades 6 through 12.
Earlier roles include serving as principal of Fishkill Plains Elementary School and Wappingers Junior High School, where he earned a NYS PTA PARP award for innovative literacy programming.
He also taught at Coleytown Elementary School in Westport, Conn.
A 1993 graduate of Fordham University, he earned his master’s degree in elementary education from Fairfield University, a certificate of advanced studies in administration from Sacred Heart University, and a degree in communication and media studies from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
The Bethel, Conn. resident was named the Empire State Supervisors and Administrators Administrator of the Year in 2025.
DiGrandi will be taking over from Mahopac’s Interim Superintendent Frank Miele, who replaced Superintendent Christine Tona last summer.
In a press statement, DiGrandi reflected on what it was like to lead the school system in which he grew up.
“Mahopac has been my home as a student, resident, and administrator, and it is a privilege to give back to the district that gave me so much,” he said. “My leadership is focused on success for all students and grounded in collaboration, transparency, and innovation while maintaining an unwavering commitment to academic excellence and strong relationships.”
‘TRUST, CLARITY, CONSISTENCY’
Martin is completing his fifth year at PQ –- one as its assistant principal and four as its principal.
In its May 7 letter to the school community, VanDerStuyf noted that he had “transformed the culture within PQ through his visible leadership style and his positive and encouraging voice for the students, faculty, and staff.”
Furthermore, he said, Martin has demonstrated “a thoughtful approach to his work, and possesses a deep knowledge of curriculum and instruction as evidenced by the research, selection, and implementation of a new literacy system at PQ, as well as the Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) framework implemented across the building in an effort to establish and maintain a culture that is responsive to all student needs.”
He will continue to partner with Middle/High School Assistant Principals Dr. Kate Murphy and Shereene Shames on “work aligned with the district goals of literacy instruction, multi-tiered systems of support (MTSS), and student independence and leadership within the Middle/High School,” VanDerStuyf wrote.
Martin will also work with the Middle/High School team toward the embedded honors implementation in English 9 and Global Studies I. Implementation of the program is planned for this September.
Martin issued the following statement following the announcement of the personnel changes.
“I am honored to be joining the North Salem Middle School and High School community as principal, and I do not take the responsibility lightly. My approach to leadership is fundamentally relational. Trust, clarity, and consistency are the cornerstones of sustainable improvement, and I have built my career around that belief. During my time at PQ, we were able to rebuild systems, strengthen culture, and ignite instructional excellence. I intend to bring that same energy and commitment to the MSHS. My focus will be on building upon the strong foundation that exists here, deepening coherence across the building, and continuing to grow a culture of high expectations and genuine care for every student.
I am also excited to continue working alongside Dawn (Snowdon), incoming principal of PQ, as we share a deep commitment to building a coherent and consistently aligned Pre-K through 12 experience for every student in North Salem. Together, we understand that schools rise to the strength of their systems, the clarity of their expectations, and the health of their culture. As building principals, our partnership reflects a unified direction across the district, one grounded in vertical alignment, long-range vision, and an unwavering focus on student outcomes at every level.”
‘STUDENT-FIRST CULTURE’
Snowdon, who is completing her fourth year in the district, has “played a pivotal role in advancing the goal work at PQ, with particular emphasis on the new literacy system rollout and enhancing the MTSS process and implementation,” VanDerStuyf said.
She is currently leading a group of K-8 teachers researching the new mathematics program and system.
The district expects to be hearing of the team’s recommendation for a pilot program “soon,” he said.
Speaking at the board meeting, VanDerStuyf said Snowdon’s “instructional background and knowledge will suit her well for that role.”
“Dawn has shown an unwavering commitment to fostering an inclusive learning environment, creating a student-first culture within the building,” the superintendent added in his May 7 letter.
(Before becoming PQ’s assistant principal, Snowdon taught fifth grade in the Wappingers Central School District.)
VanDerStuyf promised parents that they would be hearing more from Martin and Snowdon “as they begin their transitions and share their entry plans.”
He also urged folks to review and respond to the surveys attached to the letter.
“Please join me in congratulating Vince, Roy, and Dawn as they transition to their new leadership roles. It is an exciting time for all and I thank you for your continued support of the North Salem Central School District,” VanDerStuyf concluded.
‘POSITIVE, INCLUSIVE’
Snowdon shared the following statement:
“I am excited to take on the Principalship of Pequenakonck Elementary School this July. As assistant principal I have focused on building meaningful relationships with students, teachers, staff, and families as well as highlighting the high-quality work that takes place in our classrooms each day. I have led curriculum committees for both Math and ELA and I look forward to continuing this work at PQ. As principal, my work will be grounded in a clear set of goals. Strengthening high-quality instruction in every classroom to ensure student engagement and success. Continuing to build a positive, inclusive school culture that focuses on building student leadership and independence. Using data and feedback to guide decision-making and improve outcomes for all learners as well as expanding opportunities for family engagement and partnership.
With Dr. Martin moving to the Middle/High School I am excited for the opportunity to continue our partnership and look forward to future collaboration with him to strengthen our Pre-Kindergarten -- 12th Grade student experience. This cohesive approach will help to improve student outcomes for all of our students."
Comments
No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here