The Port Jefferson School District is pleased to announce that Mr. Eric Haruthunian has been named principal at Earl L. Vandermeulen High School and Ms. Amy Laverty has been named pre-K-8 assistant principal.

Before joining the Port Jefferson School District, Mr. Haruthunian most recently served as the assistant principal at John F. Kennedy High School in the Plainview-Old Bethpage School District, where he served since 2015. Prior to that position, he served as supervisor of discipline at Wantagh High School. His professional background also includes eight years of teaching experience in mathematics at the middle and high school level in the Freeport School District.

Mr. Haruthunian earned a Master of Science in educational leadership from the College of New Rochelle and a Master of Science in elementary education from LIU Post (then known as Long Island University, C.W. Post). He holds a Bachelor of Arts in secondary math education, also from LIU Post, and permanent certification as a school administrator/supervisor, school district administrator and in 7-12 mathematics. He has considerable experience in curriculum, budget and professional development, leadership and teambuilding, and student and teacher supervision.

Ms. Laverty joins Port Jefferson from an extensive career in the Northport-East Northport School District, where she served a dual role as the Summer Reading Program principal and the instructional curriculum coordinator. Before that, she was a classroom teacher at various elementary levels in the district’s Ocean Avenue Elementary School.

Ms. Laverty earned a Master of Arts in liberal studies from Stony Brook University and a Bachelor of Arts in child study and students with disabilities from St. Joseph’s College. She holds initial certification in school building leadership, and professional certifications in early childhood/childhood and students with disabilities. She also received an educational leadership advanced certificate from LIU Post.

In her new role, Ms. Laverty will work with Port Jefferson Middle School Principal Dr. Robert Neidig and Edna Louise Spear Elementary School Principal Mr. Thomas Meehan.

“The educational experiences of both Mr. Haruthunian and Ms. Laverty will help us continue to guide our students in the stimulating learning environment of our schools,” Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction Jessica Schmettan said. “We look forward to their professional commitment to our students, staff and entire school community.”