Trinity Elementary School Principal Rolando Briceño announced his resignation yesterday to staff at an afternoon meeting and to parents by way of robocall. At the time of his appointment in 2009, Briceño was only the second hispanic principal in the history of the New Rochelle public school system.
Briceño was under fire from Trinity parents from the moment his appointment as principal was announced three years ago. He has had a rocky relationship with parents in the Trinity PTA which came to a head over the past few months with the ouster of former Assistant Principal Nadine Pacheco, the removal of a popular second grade teachers and a recent allegation that a student had been attempting to set fire to seats on a school bus servicing Trinity students. There was a highly publicized complaint of a bullying situation last June involving the grandson of Maria Baez, a prominent, former elected official from New York City.
As Principal of Trinity Elementary School, Mr. Briceño has been responsible for the supervision of more than 50 teaching faculty, 30 support staff, and over 800 students.
Briceño was selected as the principal for Trinity Elementary School in New Rochelle in June 2009. He served previously as Assistant Principal at Trinity. He replaced Richard McMahon who was brought out of retirement to serve as Acting Principal two years ago when former principal Jacqueline Herman took maternity leave. Herman informed the District during the school year that she did not intend to return to work at the end of her two year unpaid leave.
At the time of his appointment to principal many parents expressed concern over his lack of leadership experience and the transitory nature of the principalship at Trinity which has seen an unusually large turnover rate in the senior leadership position.
Briceño holds a degree of Master of Arts in School Leadership and Technology from Adelphi University, and a Bachelor of Arts degree from St. John’s University. Prior to his employment in the New Rochelle School District, Mr. Briceño was Dean at Public School 72 in New York City, and Assistant Director at the Time Middle School in New York City where he had also taught Social Studies. He began his teaching career teaching at Junior High School 117 in 1997.
The full text of Rolando Briceño’s message to parents follows:
I will be resigning my position as Principal of Trinity School for personal reasons effective June 30, 2012.
I would like to thank you, the parents, and the school district of New Rochelle for the opportunity to contribute to Trinity’s success. I felt privileged to guide and advance a comprehensive educational agenda at Trinity.
More specifically, an agenda that includes the implementation of full-day kindergarten, the introduction of successful positive school-wide behavior plan, the ongoing alignment of our school curriculum with New York State standards and the restructuring of our delivery of dual language.
As a result of such efforts it was extremely gratifying for all of us here at Trinity to witness that last spring our students did enjoy the largest increase in New York State ELA and Math scores of any elementary school in the district.
Trinity is a beautifully diverse school and I continue to believe that Trinity has all of the ingredients needed to make it a high-achieving and student-centered school.
As I leave Trinity School, I will take with me many enjoyable memories that I will cherish from the past seven years as Assistant Principal and Principal and my door will continue to be open for you should you have any questions or should simply like to visit.
Thank you.
Trinity School
50 Teaching Faculty and 30 Support Staff seems like a lot of Support Staff.
The Great Principal
Maybe his Visa was up.
C’mon
Not cool. Have some class.
Trinty School is another
Trinty School is another school in New Rochelle that gave up on the importance of education. There are so many school advisors, teachers, principals, and other officals who worry about how to cut the back, and that decreases the resources needed for the students to get the proper education needed. They need to place people who actually are compassionate about education.
To Your Earlier Comment
Newro10
Not sure what you meant about Visa or speaking english earlier, but seems disconnected to the issue of this article. I suggest you read the article again.
To Your Earlier Comment
Newro -10
Bravo Mr. Sanchez.
First and foremost…
Please don’t bring race or ethnicity into any issue for any reason before just evaluating an individuals character. Visas have nothing to do with ones decision making whether right or wrong. If anything focus on the BIGGER PICTURE. I’m sure that won’t be hard to figure out. There are cuts so many valuable resources being made. Worry more about where the moneys going and coming from.
Have some Class
To the great newro10
You should really think before you say, your being a bully.
This is a serious situation, this decision will effect each and every individual within the Trinity school district.
you comment is not warranted.
So don’t even go there!!!!!!!!!!
Not a serious situation, it’s a blessing
We should thank Briceno for removing himself from the situation. He’s proven time and again to be ineffective, unapproachable and completely fearful of addressing ANY situation of substance. So don’t give credence to anyone acting pejoratively towards him. It reinforces that behavior. The focus must be on the instant improvement in Trinity School now that it’s biggest obstacle has been removed. The man is not capable to perform in this capacity. Never was, never will be.
Unfortunately he didn’t leave for the right reasons. The district will never clean itself up without an underlying reason. Briceno was asked to resign to make way for Ms Pacheco who is “doing time” at Barnard until something better comes her way. This might be it.
Either way , the good news is the bumpkin is gone and now Trinity will do better just for that. Good ridding to him and good luck Trinity!
I Completely agree with you,
I Completely agree with you, However, this is a serious situation because this does effect our children.
Newro -10
You are a FOOL! Your small minded, simpleton way of thinking is not appreciated and you are nothing short of a coward to hide behind a false identity.
Jane 1
It sounds like you went to Trinty School thirty years ago when it was a good, safe school where everyone only spoke English. Maybe if you look at the fact that New Rochelle lacks the proper resources and see that their hiring standards aren’t what they were, you would understand the difference between quality over the fly by nights.