L to R: Dr. Marie Braccia, Principal Stewart School, welcomes Mary Ann Bliss, Assistant Principal Stewart School. Mary Ann Bliss and Susan Guiliano, former primary assistant principals, are assuming the role of assistant principals at the elementary level. Ms. Bliss will serve as Stewart School Assistant Principal, and Ms. Guiliano as Stratford School Assistant Principal. Recognizing their strength as staff developers, the district will continue to utilize their talents in providing professional development for the elementary teachers, especially in the area of balanced literacy.

Mary Ann Bliss recently said, “It was my privilege to serve as an Assistant Principal for the Primary School at Locust. It has been a pleasure to work with an outstanding administrative team, high quality faculty members, motivated students, and dedicated parents.” Ms. Bliss was the key leader at Locust School in establishing the new reading program. In addition to this, she initiated a character education program and participated in workshops on early literacy competencies, guided reading, Write Traits, and word study. She also implemented the use of the Early Literacy Profile to assess student strengths and needs in reading and writing.

L to R: Susan Guiliano, Assistant Principal Stratford School and Miss Diane Hopkins, Principal, Stratford School. Ms. Bliss anticipates with great enthusiasm her new position a Assistant Principal of Stewart School. “It will be exciting to reunite with former Locust School students and to have an opportunity to work with Dr. Braccia and the Stewart School faculty to provide a productive and secure atmosphere for learning.”

For the past two years, Susan Guiliano has been the Assistant Principal at Homestead School. During her tenure, Ms. Guiliano worked on the design of the full day kindergarten program, balanced literacy and formal and informal assessment tools. She also helped to revise the primary school progress report, aligning it with the New York State Learning standards.

Ms. Guiliano participated in numerous district committees including the report card committee, health and safety committee, instructional support team, and the Substance Abuse Council. In her role as a staff developer, her presentations involved such topics as balanced literacy, guided reading, word study program, assessment, technology, data analysis, and character education.

Ms. Guiliano looks forward to her new role as Assistant Principal of Stratford School. “My goal is to work together with the Stratford School Principal, Diane Hopkins, to ensure a positive and safe learning environment, and to maximize learning opportunities for all students.”