Pearl River Puts Trust in New High School Assistant Principal

Pearl River High School will have its new assistant principal in place when classes begin Sept. 5 and the district did not have to go far to find him.

The Pearl River Board of Education approved the appointment of former Felix Festa Middle School teacher Andrew Trust to take over the assistant principal position that came open when . 

"When the job came up, what was so appealing was Pearl River is one of the few communities left in Rockland County," Trust said. "My wife and I wanted to live in Pearl River, but it didn't work out for us. The town itself and the school district have such a great reputation and such a community atmosphere that it was a place that I would love to be a part of."

"I want to welcome Andrew," Pearl River Board of Education President Rob Davis said. "It's a wonderful team. We have set the bar pretty high and we expect great things from you."

Trust has a Master's Degree from City College of New York and a Certificate of Advanced Study in Educational Administration from SUNY-New Paltz. He is currently the doctorate program for educational administration at Seton Hall.

Trust worked at Felix Festa for eight years, starting as a special education teacher and adding 504 coordinator and then dean of students to his duties. Pearl River High School, with an enrollment less than half the size of Felix Festa, will provide a different environment.

"(The Clarkstown School District) is much bigger," Trust said. "There are 2,300 kids in Festa. It's important to me being part of a district that is one high school. One middle school. Everybody funnels into one place with the support of the community."

"I'd like to welcome Andrew," Pearl River Superintendent of Schools Dr. John Morgano said. "He was here for our two days of administrative meetings. He has a real feel for the district and where we're going."