Hello School Leadership 2.0,

I am happy to announce my retirement as principal of Martin Avenue Elementary School in North Bellmore, Long Island.  I have been so fortunate to have had a career that has included:

• Teaching and supervising programs for students with autism in New York City's District 75
• Serving as founding principal at Martin Avenue Elementary School upon its reopening in 2001
• Earning my doctorate from Hofstra where I did a study of a professional learning community, while receiving honors for it from Hofstra as well as from the University Council for Educational Administration (UCEA)
• Standing with Long Island principals as we spoke out against the misguided policies of APPR

In retirement, I look forward to resuming my earlier passion of serious study and practice of my jazz saxophone which I had set aside as I pursued my career.

I wish all of my colleagues on Long Island and across the nation strength as you continue to fight for a more rationale approach to evaluations.  Special good wishes to Michael Keany for his tireless service to education and to Carol Burris and Sean Feany for kick starting the fight.

Mark