After an extensive search, on May 27 it was announced in an email from Dr. Champ that the Board of Education had chosen Bethany Antonelli as the new assistant principal of Pelham Memorial High School. She will be at the forefront of a new leadership team at PMHS, joining recently appointed principal Mark Berkowitz in replacing longtime principal Jeannine Clark and assistant principal Judd Rothstein.

Ms. Antonelli has had a wide array of experiences and qualifications that make her a perfect fit for Pelham. Before being hired, she worked as an assistant principal at Energy Tech High School in Queens. Besides working as a school administrator, Ms. Antonelli also has experience in counseling, general education, and special education. At Energy Tech High School Ms. Antonelli oversaw a wide range of facets including the guidance and special education departments. She also presided over the ELA department at Frederick Douglass Academy III in the Bronx. Ms. Antonelli holds masters degrees in both Educational Leadership and English Education from Teachers College at Columbia University and Manhattanville College, respectively, a Juris Doctor from the University of Pittsburgh, as well as a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science from Colgate University.

Besides what she can provide for PMHS, Ms. Antonelli is excited for what PMHS’ unique environment can offer to her. She said, ”I’m looking forward to getting to know the students, faculty and the families at Pelham Memorial High School, and learning about all the traditions that make PMHS so special. I’ve heard mention of an Olympics–looking forward to experiencing that first-hand next spring!” 

The coming school year will likely bring many changes besides new faces in the high school. Following the massive impact of both COVID-19 and protests across the country from the Black Lives Matter movement, demanding reforms following the death of George Floyd, school could look massively different when resumed. Ms. Antonelli acknowledges this and is ready for what this could mean for the community.

She said, ”We are living in unprecedented times…As a school community, we need to capitalize on this moment to have important discussions about what school is, and what it could and should be. It is my hope that not only does the upcoming school year look different, but that the future of education looks different. I look forward to partnering with faculty, students and families to envision what this might look like at PMHS.” 

Whatever the next year could bring, Ms. Antonelli wants the community to know that she will always be open to hearing any concerns, problems, or thoughts.

Antonelli said, “What I love about being in education are the opportunities to partner with the students and their families. I have an open-door policy, and I love when students and/or families come to me when they need help.”