Paul Voigtland has been named the new principal of Otisville Elementary effective July 1, following the retirement of Julia Downey.
“I'm excited to have the opportunity to give back and be in service to the community that made me who I am," said Mr. Voigtland. “I bring a deep commitment to fostering a collaborative, inclusive school culture. I also bring a strong background in instructional leadership, with a proven track record of supporting teachers through professional development utilizing data driven strategies to elevate student achievement.”
As he begins to settle into his new role, Mr. Voigtland noted the importance about working with students and making them feel important.
“What I enjoy most is the privilege of watching children grow, witnessing those 'lightbulb' moments of discovery, and seeing them blossom into confident, capable learners,” he said. “From greeting them by name at the front doors to actively elevating their voices in the decision-making process. By celebrating diverse strengths and prioritizing building authentic relationships.”
Partnerships are important, and Mr. Voigtland also looks forward to working with the school’s faculty and staff.
“I am dedicated to establishing a safe environment where they feel free to innovate, acting as a supportive thought partner in instructional decisions, creating meaningful opportunities for collaboration and removing barriers so they can focus entirely on doing their best work,” he said.
Equally important are relationships with families and the school’s PTO.
‘Parents, guardians, and our PTO are absolutely vital partners in everything we achieve at Otisville Elementary,” said Mr. Voigtland, who plans to host multiple principal roundtables throughout the year. “Their dedication, from reinforcing learning at home, volunteering their time, to funding critical classroom enrichment and beloved community traditions like the Superhero Fun Run, creates the supportive community our students need to thrive. I look forward to working hand-in-hand with them to ensure our school remains a vibrant, collaborative home for every family.”
Mr. Voigtland thanked outgoing Principal Julia Downey for the time she spent to help him get more familiarized with Otisville operations, and looks forward to collaborating with Assistant Principal Nikachi Griffin.
"Ms. Downey has been tremendously helpful to me and I'm very grateful for that," he said. "I wish her much happiness in her retirement. Looking ahead, I am absolutely thrilled to partner with Assistant Principal Griffin. Together, we are ready to dive into the fantastic work already underway and ensure Otisville Elementary is the absolute best version of itself."
Mr. Voigtland, who lives outside of Otisville with his family, stressed that each student’s academic success must be balanced with his/her social-emotional wellbeing.
“A child's mind can only truly open to learning when they first feel safe, secure, and cared for," he said. “By prioritizing the social-emotional well-being of our students at Otisville, we lay the vital foundation necessary for them to take risks, overcome challenges, and reach their highest academic potential.”
Mr. Voigtland graduated Minisink Valley in 2002 and is well-versed with the district and its history. He credits high school physics teacher Martin Greco, who also retired after a lengthy career this year, as his inspiration for entering the education field.
“He made learning fun and his classroom a place that I wanted to be in while still maintaining academic rigor,” he added. "I modeled my teaching style after my experience in his classroom.”
Mr. Voigtland, who most recently was the assistant principal at Liberty Middle School, holds an advanced certificate in educational leadership from Long Island University; a master’s degree in mathematics education from SUNY Albany; and a bachelor’s degree in mathematics education from SUNY Cortland.
He taught math at the secondary level for 18 years before becoming a school administrator. He began his teaching career in Paulding County, Georgia, before moving back to upstate New York where he taught at Cobleskill-Richmondville Central School District. He then moved back to his home area and taught at the Middletown School District before taking on his leadership role at Liberty.