Former B.B. Principal Schuelein appointed as sup’t in upstate NY

Former Blind Brook High School Principal Dr. Derek Schuelein has been busy as of late—jumping around to three different school districts within the span of just over a year.

Schuelein, who was the Blind Brook High School associate principal for four years before receiving a promotion to the principal position in 2018, left the Blind Brook School District in 2020. That year, in April, he submitted his resignation, announcing his switch to assume the same position at Rye High School for the following school year.

Last summer, his position was filled by current High School Principal Dr. Jennifer Chirles.

In the Rye City School District, Schuelein didn’t stay for the entire year, resigning in March of this year. Though the resignation was intended to go into effect at the end of the of the school year, according to a community statement from Rye Superintendent Dr. Eric Byrne, Schuelein took a personal leave of absence for the remainder of his term.

Schuelein resigned the same week disparaging rumors about his character circulated in the community. Byrne wrote his departure and leave of absence “are not in any way related to the recent rumors disseminated,” which he added are “completely false.”

However, Schuelein has found a new educational home. News reports indicate that on July 1, the Andover Board of Education appointed the former Blind Brook principal as their superintendent of schools. The district, located in New York’s Allegany County, is comprised of 267 students from pre-kindergarten to high school.

Schuelein begins his term upstate on Aug. 14.

—Sarah Wolpoff