Candidate Announced for Pelham Middle School Principal Position

One candidate has stepped forward in the Pelham school district’s search to replace Joseph Longobardi as principal of the Pelham Middle School.

Prospect Hill Elementary School Principal Robert J. Roelle was announced as a candidate during Monday night’s Pelham School board meeting. Roelle was selected after the district decided to open up the position internally to its own staff before posting advertisements for the middle school principal opening.

Last month, after 39 years of working with Pelham schools.

Pelham schools Superintendent Dennis Lauro said Roelle has already sent notice to parents and staff at Prospect Hill. On Monday, Lauro said Roelle met with with a group of middle school teachers. Those teachers will provide feedback to Lauro and Peter Giarrizzo, the assistant superintendent for curriculum, instruction and personnel.

Lauro said the district’s administrators union waived their right to interview Roelle and have given him their full support.

“The next step in the process for Dr. Roelle is he will be interviewed by the middle school site based team this coming Wednesday, followed by a community forum which we’ll hold [April 4] at 7 p.m., followed by an interview with the board of education at 7:45 p.m.,” Giarrizzo said.

After those steps are completed, Lauro and Giarrizzo plan to give Roelle a formal interview before giving the board their recommendations during the April 16 meeting.

If Lauro and Giarrizzo decide not to recommend Roelle, the principal search will spread to candidates outside of the district.