Dear Putnam Valley Community:
Last evening, at its regular meeting, the Board of Education acted on the resignation of Ryan Odell from his position as Assistant Principal of Putnam Valley High School. Mr. Odell will return to his position as a beloved Music teacher and Band Director. He was appointed as Assistant Principal in December, 2015 after a thorough search to replace Sam Oliverio who retired after many years in the District. Mr. Odell was eager to take on the new challenge, working closely with Principal Sandra Intrieri to continue District goals to make a difference for all students. His knowledge of the students and community made the transition as smooth as possible, and much was accomplished in a short time to support high expectations and a positive learning environment. It was, however, Mr. Odell’s desire to return to the position he loved. Perhaps the best way to communicate his decision is to share some of the letter he sent to the staff:
Dear PVHS Faculty and Staff,
I wanted to reach out to all of you…
I hope that in the duration of my service, I have made improvements to our school community and culture in a way that will be sustainable going forward…
I am most grateful to all of you for the opportunity to serve as the assistant principal for this short time, and I hope that I have performed my leadership responsibilities with professionalism and dignity. The decision to return to the classroom has not been easy, yet I am most confident that it is the right choice. At the end of the day, I have the heart of a teacher. I will continue to perform my duties to the best of my ability until the end of the school year and look forward to serving the school community of Putnam Valley for many more years to come.
Thank you, Ryan
The District will commence a search immediately for an assistant principal. Mr. Odell will remain in his current role until June 30. We will update the community as we move forward.
Happy Mothers Day to all!
Sincerely,
Dr. Frances Wills
Superintendent of Schools