Kathleen Sottile

Principal
Floral Park Memorial High School
Sewanhaka CHSD

Kathleen Sottile's multi-faceted career in education includes owning and operating a private pre-school as well as teaching music to elementary school students in Pennsylvania. She quickly moved up the ladder, taking on increasing responsibilities, including serving as assistant principal in two districts before becoming principal of Floral Park Memorial High School.

With Sottile at the helm, Floral Park Memorial has earned many accolades, including being noted in U.S. News and World Report's "Best High Schools 2007" as one of only six schools on Long Island to receive a Gold or Sliver Medal out of 505 medal winners across the country.

Whether it's initiating an innovative reading program, substituting for a music teacher, getting her hands dirty to beautify school grounds or addressing teen drug and alcohol use, Sottile's tireless commitment to academics and social development is appreciated by both staff and students.

Sottile is a strong supporter of department initiatives, including the arts, sports and extracurricular programs. In 2009, through her grant-writing efforts, she made the dream of a student concert and art exhibit at Lincoln Center a reality. In an effort to get more students reading, she started the "Floral Park Reads" program, which hosts local authors who inspire students to read and consider careers in writing and publication.

A strong advocate for innovative staff development sessions, Sottile serves as a role model for lifelong learning as she pursues her doctorate in educational leadership.

A resident of Long Beach, N.Y., Sottile has received numerous awards for her outstanding commitment to education, including the Everyday Hero Award from the New York District Kiwanis, Eleanor Roosevelt Award from Assemblyman Tom Alfano's Women of Distinction, Pathfinder Award from the Town of Hempstead, and March of Dimes Golden Apple Award. Sottile holds bachelor's and master's degrees in music education from Marywood University, and Certification in Principalship and a Superintendent's Letter of Eligibility from Temple University.