Donna Connelly picked as new principal at PS 24

BREAKING NEWS Posted 9/24

By Kate Pastor 

Donna L. Connelly, a doctor of psychology, will take the helm as PS 24’s new principal next week, the school will announce at its parents’ association meeting tonight.

According to the PA, Ms. Connelly comes from PS 69 in the Bronx where she has been as a literacy coach since 2003. Prior to that she was principal of PS 3 in Manhattan from 1993 to 1996, and an assistant principal at PS 64 from 1989 to 1993. Ms. Connelly also has extensive teaching experience and experience as a conflict resolution specialist.

“We are confident that Ms. Connelly will bring a much-needed human touch to our school, backed by years of experience in education,” parents’ association Co-President Cliff Stanton said in a statement.

Bob Cohen, the Empowerment Network leader, has said Interim Principal Deirdre Burke will be kept on long enough to ensure a smooth transition, according to the statement. Ms. Burke took over temporarily last spring after Philip Scharper was driven out as principal.

The school chancellor’s regulations dictate that the process for filling a principal vacancy include several steps, each with different players needed to make a decision.

First, a hiring manager designated by the Department of Education selects three to five candidates for the Level I Committee, made up of one supervisor from the school or school district’s support organization; two UFT members; a school support staff member represented by D.C. 37, Local 372; four to seven parents; a single designee from the school support organization and a designee of an intermediary organization.

The Level I Committee interviews and rates candidates and sends their recommendations to the Level II Committee. The superintendent then passes along a final recommendation to schools Chancellor Joel Klein's office for the final decision.