Longtime Wantagh Principal Retiring

A Wantagh principal who has earned accolades on a state and national level for his leadership and educational contributions will soon be leaving the district he has called home for nearly four decades.

Dr. Donald Sternberg, who has been principal at Wantagh Elementary School for 32 years and worked in the district for 39 years, has decided to retire at the end of the current school year. The Wantagh Board of Education approved Sternberg's retirement at its Thursday night meeting.

"We wish Dr. Sternberg health and happiness in his retirement and thank him for many years of dedicated service to the education of our children," said Wantagh Board of Education President Michael Cucci at Thursday night's meeting.

Sternberg, who is also a professor at Stony Brook University's School of Professional Development, was selected as the 2009 New York State Elementary School Principal of the Year by the School Administrators Association of New York State (SAANYS). This award is given annually to a principal who has set the pace, character, and quality of education for the children in his or her school.

"Dr. Sternberg has led that school through the Blue Ribbon application process where it was named as a New York State and a United States Blue Ribbon School of Excellence," said Wantagh Acting Superintendent Maureen Goldberg in remarks during Thursday night's meeting. "We will miss him as a principal here but we wish him and his family much health and happiness in his retirement."