Veteran educator joins administrative team at Barry Tech

Patrick Crea, a passionate and empathetic educational leader known for his problem-solving approach and support of students’ social, emotional, and academic growth, has been appointed Assistant Principal.

“Barry Tech provides a professional introduction to careers through industry experts, who incorporate real-world workplace scenarios into their classrooms,” Mr. Crea observed of his new educational home. “ A lot of the skills taught her are transferrable to multiple career fields. Barry Tech has exceptionally strong programs, and its students are acquiring the professional skills necessary to enter the workforce.”

A passionate and empathetic educational leader who supports his students socially, emotionally and academically, Mr. Crea is known as a pragmatic problem solver and a critical thinker who is always open to new opportunities. He began his career as a high school English teacher in districts throughout Long Island, including the Sewanhaka CHSD, the Freeport UFSD and the Baldwin UFSD.

While in Baldwin, Mr. Crea branched out from the classroom to the internet, becoming supervisor for online learning. From there, he advanced into the role of assistant principal for Baldwin High School Summer School and eventually went to work for Nassau BOCES as Baldwin’s supervisor of specialized schools.

“I’ve seen firsthand the power of career and technical education,” Mr. Crea said. “There is tremendous value in students using their particular gifts in nontraditional ways. They come into the classroom with a passion for their interests. Students who are dedicated and skilled in their field, who then graduate into their chosen careers, are a benefit to the whole community.”

Mr. Crea holds a bachelor’s degree in English and literature from Siena College, a master’s degree in secondary English education from Hofstra University, and a certificate of advanced study educational leadership from SUNY Stony Brook.

He holds professional certification from New York State in school district and school building leadership, and in teaching secondary English. He is a member of the New York State School Administrators Association, the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development, the National Alternative Education Association, and the New York State English Language Arts  Standards Review Committee.