New Mahopac Schools Superintendent Eager to be Part of Community
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Christine Tona started her new position as Superintendent of Schools in Mahopac on July 1 and is ready to hit the ground running learning about the community and the district.
“My priority is to get to know the community, students and staff and to get their input on where we are going to take the district in the future,” Tona stated in a Q&A on the district’s website. “That input will go into building upon the Strategic Plan to create goals and an action plan for the next five years. I also look forward to bringing the district back to normalcy and providing students with all the opportunities they deserve.”
Tona was selected by the Mahopac Board of Education in March to replace retiring Superintendent of Schools Anthony DiCarlo. At the time, Tona said she was attracted to Mahopac by its success, initiatives and commitment to meeting the needs of all students.
“I am honored to have this opportunity to be Superintendent of Mahopac Schools, and I am very grateful to everyone who has been so welcoming to me,” Tona stated in her Q&A. “My fiancé and I just bought a home in Mahopac and we look forward to spending the rest of our lives here.”
Tona said she grew up wanting to be a teacher after having a strong relationship with her kindergarten teacher. She earned her certification in math for grades 7 through 12 and spent the first 10 years teaching math. The next 11 years she was an elementary school principal, followed by 10 years as an administrator.
“The greatest asset of a public education is the opportunity for students to try new things, which will help them form lifelong friendships and choose their future career paths. It is important for educators to push students out of their comfort zones and get them to try new things,” she said.
During the next few months, Tona said she will host a series of conversations with community members, parents, students and teachers, with a goal of learning more about the district and its priorities.
On a personal level, Tona, who has two adult sons, enjoys traveling and her bucket list includes going to stadiums across the country to see the Mets play.
Rick has more than 40 years’ experience covering local news in Westchester and Putnam counties, running the gamut from politics and crime to sports and human interest. He has been an editor at Examiner Media since 2012. Read more from Rick’s editor-author bio here. Read Rick’s work here: https://www.theexaminernews.com/author/pezzullo_rick-writer/
