RCSD Instructional Coach Leah Blumenthal Named RMS Assistant Principal

On August 22, Ms. Leah Blumenthal was appointed Assistant Principal at Rye Middle School by the Rye City School District (RCSD) Board of Education. Ms. Blumenthal fills the position vacated by Nick Clair when he became Principal of Rye Middle School. She assumed the role on August 25. 

To find RMS’s new Assistant Principal, the District conducted a rigorous search process with 93 applicants vying for the position. The District conducted in-depth screening of candidates via a thorough resume review followed by three levels of interviews with District administrators and a committee of stakeholders, including parents, teachers, students, support staff, and administrators.  

Superintendent of Schools Dr. Tricia Murray said, “Ms. Blumenthal emerged early on as a leading candidate. The committee very quickly recognized her impressive background, strong abilities, and engaging demeanor.”

Dr. Murray said, “Throughout the process, Ms. Blumenthal demonstrated a high level of instructional knowledge in terms of meeting student needs at all levels. She connected well with students and demonstrated a strong background in social emotional learning. Having her as part of our leadership team will bring great value to our District. 

Ms. Blumenthal is already well-known at Rye Middle School and throughout the RCSD. For the past year, she has been the District’s High School and Middle School Instructional Coach. In that role, she designed and facilitated professional learning for RMS and RHS teachers. She wrote curriculum, designed specialized learning experiences in collaboration with teachers, and worked closely with Department Coordinators to further their work in all content areas.

Prior to coming to Rye, Ms. Blumenthal spent four years as the Assistant Principal at IS 96, the Seth Low Intermediate School in Brooklyn, NY, in charge of special education, visual and performing arts, and the school’s 6th grade. Before becoming Assistant Principal, she spent three years as a special education ASD Nest Coach, supporting 96 students with Autism Spectrum Disorder.  She began her career as a special education literacy and English Language Arts teacher and taught for seven years in both ICT and self-contained classrooms.

At RMS, Ms. Blumenthal will work to promote both the academic and social-emotional development of students. She will also lead professional development for faculty and staff, focusing on how to best meet the needs of all students across curricular areas. 

Ms. Blumenthal has a B.A. in History from the University of Delaware, an M.S. in Education, Students with Disabilities from St. John’s University, and a School Building Leader and School District Leader Certificate of Advanced Study from the College of Saint Rose.

Congratulations, Ms. Blumenthal!