Kelli Fenley named principal of Nassau BOCES Iris Wolfson High School

Kelli Fenley has been appointed Principal of Nassau BOCES Iris Wolfson High School (IWHS), effective September 1, 2026.

Formerly the school's Assistant Principal, she replaces Lisa Paulucci who has been named Principal at the Preschool at Barry Tech. The Iris Wolfson High School provides a nurturing and academically invigorating environment for students who have experienced difficulty thriving in a traditional school setting due to their social and emotional needs. The faculty, staff and administration at Iris Wolfson encourage acceptance, foster academic achievement, help to develop self-reliance, model tolerance, and motivate students to meet their highest potential.

Iris Wolfson fosters acceptance, stimulates academic achievement, encourages self-reliance, practices tolerance, and motivates students to meet their highest potential.

Kelli Fenley is an accomplished professional educator and administrator, with a proven track record of success in curriculum and program development. She has significant expertise in curriculum mapping, as well as teacher and lesson evaluation. She is known for her ability to create nurturing and productive learning environments for students with diverse learning needs and has successfully implemented multiple schoolwide behavior support systems.

Mrs. Fenley began her career in the New York City school system as an elementary special education teacher at P.S. 256 in Belle Harbor, Queens. In addition to providing instruction, she also served as the schoolwide curriculum and instructional support advisor. Her exceptional performance in this role caught the attention of the administration, who soon advanced her from teacher to unit coordinator. From there, she was appointed as assistant principal of P.S. 256, where she served until being named assistant principal of Nassau BOCES Iris Wolfson High School.

I am truly honored to step into the role of principal at Iris Wolfson High School,” Mrs. Fenley said of her new position at the school. “I am committed to building on the keen sense of community that makes this school so special, while also supporting our students, families and staff. Together, we will continue creating opportunities for our students to learn, grow and achieve meaningful success, both in school and in their future lives.

Mrs. Fenley holds a master’s degree in special education from Long Island University, and a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Saint John’s University. She also holds professional certification in educational leadership and administration from the College of Saint Rose, as well as New York State certification in school building leadership, teaching students with disabilities, and elementary education.