By Kevin McLaughlin
Former IHS principal and current track coach Dr. Scott Mosenthal recently joined the Dows Lane community as an interim for Assistant Principal Liza Wishney, who is on medical leave for the rest of the school year.
Dr. Mosenthal (Dr. Mo) certainly has plenty of experience working in schools, as he spent 37 years as an educator at IHS. He began his career in 1975, as a high school English teacher, and spent 13 of the 37 years as an assistant principal and the final 14 years as principal.
Dr. Mo is eager to continue to work with the elementary students.
“They are friendly, enthusiastic, and fun to be around,” he said, adding that he has also been impressed with the intelligence of the kids, describing them as “concrete thinkers.”
Elementary students also seem to enjoy having him around as well. He said one student greets him everyday by saying, “Hi there, Mr. Wave-A-Lot.”
After being in the school district for 37 years at the secondary level and retired for eight, Dr. Mo said that he was initially reluctant. However, after talking to his wife who had been an elementary teacher in Irvington for many years, Dr. Mo said, “I changed my mind after she described how much fun it is to be around younger kids and how terrific the Dows Lane staff is.”
After being around the Dows Lane community for a little while now, Dr. Mo says that his wife’s description of Dows Lane was spot on.
“I decided to take the plunge and am extremely happy to have done so –everything she said has turned out to be spot on.”
Dr. Mo also wanted to give a shout out to the IHS staff.
“I have total admiration for all teachers and staff members who are dealing with his incredibly challenging situation and wish them nothing but the best!”
