Three new administrators have joined the Minisink Valley School District as assistant principals this school year.
John Augusta, Middle School Assistant Principal
Prior to joining Minisink Valley, Mr. Augusta was the assistant principal at Gregg Middle School in Summerville, South Carolina, spearheading and implementing the school’s instructional vision.
Before that role, he was the interim principal at Mahopac High School in Mahopac in Putnam County. He also was director of athletics, physical education and health education for the Mahopac School District.
As part of his career experience, Mr. Augusta also held positions in at Walter Panas High School in Cortlandt Manor in Westchester County; and for the Proctor School District in Proctor, Vermont.
He earned his master’s degree in school building leadership from Mercy College in Yorktown Heights; a master’s degree in business administration from Columbia Southern University in Or Beach, Alabama; and two bachelor’s degrees from Castleton State College in Castleton, Vermont: one in physical education/sociology; and the other in criminal justice.
“Minisink Valley Middle School’s educational opportunities will solidly and successfully prepare its students for the rigor and challenges of high school,” he said. “To be able to be a part of this outstanding administration is truly the highlight of my career as an educator. I’m looking forward to becoming a vital part of this exceptional school community, helping our sixth-graders to flourish in a new school, our seventh-graders to become even more confident in their educational abilities, and preparing our eighth-graders for the next steps in their educational journeys.”
Brian Burrow, High School Assistant Principal
Prior to joining Minisink Valley, Mr. Burrow was the director of physical education, athletics and health at the Putnam Valley School District since 2015. For 10 years prior to that time, he was a physical education teacher at Putnam Valley.
Mr. Burrow his advanced certificate in school leadership from SUNY New Paltz; a master’s degree in general education from the University of New England in Maine; and a bachelor’s degree in physical education from Cortland State University.
“I look forward to working with the students, staff and community of Minisink Valley,” said Mr. Burrow. “I believe that true leadership is organic and evolves through time from working collaboratively while creating relationships. To me there isn’t anything more rewarding than working with others to reach a desired outcome. I hope to build on the successes that Minisink Valley High School has achieved in the past.”
Elizabeth Van Dunk-McBean, Elementary/Intermediate School Assistant Principal
Mrs. Van Dunk-McBean joined the Elementary School in 2015 as a kindergarten teacher, most recently completing an administrative internship with the district.
Prior to joining Minisink Valley, she was an integrated co-teaching (ICT) kindergarten teacher with P.S. 109 in the Bronx; a long-term substitute/leave replacement teacher at Maple Hill Elementary in Middletown; and a general equivalency degree teacher for the Beacon Correctional Facility.
She earned her advanced certificate in school leadership from Long Island University’s Hudson Campus; a master’s degree in B-6 literacy from Mount Saint Mary College in Newburgh; a bachelor’s degree in childhood education at SUNY Oneonta; and her associate degree in liberal arts from SUNY Orange.
“I’m passionate about team building to foster teacher quality and student outcomes,” said Mrs. Van Dunk-McBean. “I’m equally passionate about serving the whole child. One of my important focuses will be to continue to encourage a positive school climate that cultivates student success and motivates teacher leaders. The Elementary and Intermediate schools provide critically important foundations for middle school success, and even beyond. Our teachers are exceedingly talented, motivated and dedicated to their students’ achievements. Our families are so fortunate to have their children be a part of these two school communities.”