By Dani Heller
This afternoon, the Irvington school district administration informed the high school staff that Ms. Juliet Gevargis-Mizimakoski will not be returning to finish the school year, following her sudden resignation as principal on April 1.
Ms. GM was absent due to personal reasons this week, and the announcement came in a special meeting with high school staff on Friday following the school day.
Assistant principal Ms. Michelleann DeFilippis will assume leadership duties until the district hires an interim principal to finish the school year. Superintendent Dr. Kris Harrison and Dr. Gail Duffy, the assistant superintendent for instruction and human resources, will also alternate in-building assistance until an interim principal is hired.
In her announcement on April 1, Ms. GM wrote, “Though I am grateful for and proud of our work together, after much thoughtful reflection and consideration, I have decided to step away from my position here in Irvington to support my family, reconnect with other passions and take the next steps in my career. I look forward to finishing the school year together and appreciate your understanding and support. Thank you again for welcoming me to the Bulldog Family.”
In the email Dr. Harrison wrote after Ms. GM’s previous announcement, he expressed his commitment in the search for a new principal for the 2022-23 school year. He stated that the thorough process to find a new principal will include, “forums for faculty and staff members, students, and parents to provide feedback to help develop a leadership profile that will be utilized during the interview process.”
Ms. GM, the first female principal here at IHS, began her work at IHS in 2019. Previously, she worked as the assistant principal at Tappan Zee High School. Within the first few months of her experience as a principal, the COVID-19 pandemic began, making her new role even more challenging.
