Debra Emmerich Assumes Role as Seaford Manor School Principal

Seaford Manor School is not only welcoming back students this year but is also welcoming the return of one of their former assistant principals, Debra Emmerich, who has graduated as the school's new lead principal.

Emmerich, who most recently worked as assistant principal at Seaford Harbor School, said she is pleased to be back and once again contributing to Seaford Manor School's overall academic success.

With many plans in store this year, one area of particular importance for Emmerich is to maintain and strengthen Seaford Manor School's sense of community.

"This year, our character education theme is Creating A Caring Community of Learners," she said. "By focusing on this, we are uniting the school, family and Seaford community in an effort help hone in on each of our student's personal strengths and interests so they can all flourish to achieve their full potential.  As part of this campaign, every single family that makes up Seaford Manor School has their photo displayed in our main lobby for all to see, which symbolizes that unity and community."

Realizing her interest in education as a mere kindergartner who spent her childhood transforming her basement into a make-believe classroom where she would role play as teacher among her three younger siblings, Emmerich has striven to put a personal touch on education.

"I see more and more school districts moving in the direction of differentiated instruction," she explained. "In using this method, you are able to develop personalized education plans for each child according to their individual strengths, needs and interests."

Among one of the key components of differentiated instruction being carried out at Seaford Manor School is Columbia Teachers College's Balance Literacy Curriculum, which Emmerich, along with fellow Seaford Harbor School Assistant Principal Pat Gelling, was instrumental in introducing four years ago. According to Emmerich, the program allows children to capitalize on their personal interests when choosing the types of books that they read and the topics that they write about.

"Since having returned to Seaford Manor School, I have personally seen the beautiful job that the teachers here have done in implementing this type of personalized curriculum," she commented. "Because of this, our children are actively participating in the program's reading and writing workshops and are involved in its word study lessons everyday, which is essentially providing them with true differentiated instruction in ever sense of the word so they can become lifelong learners and achievers."

Gelling, who divides her time as assistant principal for both Seaford Manor and Seaford Harbor Schools, is happy to have Emmerich as principal at Seaford Manor School.

"Debra comes to the Manor School with many years of experience and much knowledge," said Gelling. "I look forward to working with her to build our 'community of learners' as we share similar goals. We work together well and are striving to provide the best education for our students in a caring environment…Her expertise in literacy and enrichment will have a positive influence on Manor School and its students."

Emmerich holds a master's degree in education from Queens College. Though she has worked at several school districts throughout her tenure before coming to Seaford School District, including Brownsville, Brooklyn's PS 327, Flushing, Queens' PS 219 and Springfield Gardens' PS 181, she said working with Seaford Union Free School District has been an exceptional experience.

"The students, as well as the parents, teachers and administrators, are unique and are like no other found in any other district I've worked in," she stated. "They are always caring among one another and reaching out to help each other, which allows for a strong community foundation and support system."

Stemming from a family tree of educators, Emmerich is also a sports enthusiast who has coached a variety of youth sports teams including Boys and Girls Volleyball and Girls Gymnastics at Valley Stream South High School, Boys Volleyball at Herricks High School and Girls Gymnastics at both Rockville Centre's South Side High School and Great Neck South High School.

Currently a Lynbrook resident, she is a mother of five, three of whom she and her husband adopted during a time in which she was hosting children from orphanages in Russia.