Port Washington Board of Education appointed Dr. Kathleen Mooney as superintendent of Port Washington Public Schools on Tuesday at the Board of Education meeting at Schreiber High School on Tuesday.
Mooney, who served as interim superintendent since July 31 when the previous superintendent, , has been with the district for 13 years. Most recently, she served as human resources administrator for the district, and before that served as director of pupil personnel services for the district.
The district received 40 applicants for the superintendent position, and “each was carefully evaluated,” School Board President Karen Sloan said, prior to the board’s approving Mooney’s appointment 6-0.
Since Mooney began her stint at interim superintendent, she staffed two of three central administration positions and a building principal, not to mention navigating a hurricane, literally, Sloan said. In addition, Mooney saw to it that the school district reopened a week after Sandy hit, while still fielding day-to-day responsibilities.
Sloan credited Mooney with handling each of the district’s recent challenges with “dignity” and “insight,” adding that feedback from the public has been “nothing but positive.” Read Sloan's full statement.
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The vote approving Mooney’s appointment was met with a round of applause and a standing ovation from well wishers, including Mooney’s father.
During community comments, Schreiber High School Assistant Principal Craig Weiss, speaking on behalf of the Association of School Administrators, said, “I could not be more thrilled about your appointment.”
Christine Vasilev, president of Port Washington Teachers Association, said that Mooney’s “stability and experience goes a long way towards helping us work together in the interest of education.”
And speaking on behalf of the Port Washington Education Foundation, Robin Sigman and Paula Whitman spoke of Mooney's “utmost professionalism.”
Mooney said she was inspired to come to work every day, crediting the district’s children and staff.
“I look forward to being here a long time, working together,” she said. “This is not a place of can do. This is a place of will do.”
If it was anything like Dr. Gordon's, we got screwed
These comments are so unfounded, so reactionary. Dr. Mooney is roundly respected in our school community by parents and staff, and as a parent, school staffer and 24 year Port home owner/tax payer, I am thrilled that she has been appointed. Our community is very fortunate.