Mr. DeTommaso: Passion for Successful Students

By Harpinder Kaur

I was lucky to sit down with the busy new principal. 

This is Mr. DeTommaso’s first year here as principal and he is motivated to bring great visions for the future of West Hempstead to action.

Mr. DeTommaso has been in education for over 27 years. He started his career as a Special Education teacher. He was also a devoted coach of football and basketball and even coached a professional lacrosse team, the Long Island Lizards. 

Mr. DeTomasso then took a Dean's job at East Rockaway High School later becoming an Assistant Principal there and then the summer school Principal. Mr. DeTommaso is filled with confidence about becoming the new principal of West Hempstead High School.

Mr. Escobar's Farewell Interview

by Emerson Maldonado

Mr. Escobar has experienced much success in his career as an educator and administrator. His presence has caused many students as well as teachers to be inspired and his actions have not gone unnoticed. It’s no wonder recent news of his departure has caused much talk throughout the student body. Before his last goodbye, I got to sit down with him and ask a few questions.

As high school students we have faced many obstacles and Mr. Escobar was once in our shoes I wanted to know what was one of his greatest obstacles in high school and how he overcame it. His response was one that I myself struggle with which is the act of speaking in public. He overcame it throughout his years as an educator by speaking to students until it became one of his strengths and now it’s one his favorite things to do. 

The next question was about the biggest obstacle he faced as a teacher. He referred back to his early years when he was just starting out, he said learning how to teach his students was the biggest challenge he faced.