The Half Hollow Hills Central School District is proud to announce the appointment of two new principals to their school buildings. Candlewood Middle School welcomes Mr. Matthew Mayo as the new principal and Paumanok Elementary School welcomes Mr. Steven Vitolano as the new principal. The selections were made from a rich pool of highly qualified candidates who represented a mix of internal applicants and new faces to the district.

 

Mayo has been the assistant principal of Candlewood Middle School since 2017. He has spent his entire career in Half Hollow Hills, working as a science teacher at Half Hollow Hills High School East for 13 years before coming to Candlewood. Mayo completed his administrative internship at High School East before making the transition from teacher to assistant principal. His wide range of experience as an assistant principal at Candlewood included developing the master schedule and overseeing building health and safety protocols. Mayo earned a Bachelor of Science in Earth and Atmospheric Sciences and a Master of Science in Secondary Education from the State University of New York at Albany, and an Advanced Graduate Certificate in Educational Leadership from the State University of New York at Stony Brook.  

 

“It has been an honor and a privilege to spend my entire professional career in the Half Hollow Hills School District and I am very excited to step into the role of principal at Candlewood,” said Mayo. “I look forward to working with all of our stakeholders to continue shaping and implementing a school vision that promotes the success of all students and prepares them academically, socially, and emotionally for their high school experience.”

 

Vitolano has been part of the Paumanok Elementary School educational community since joining them as their assistant principal in 2018. He was also the summer school principal for the grades 3-6 intermediate program in 2022 and 2023. Before coming to Half Hollow Hills, he had 12 years of teaching service in Queens within the New York City Department of Education, spending three years at P.S. 38 and nine years at P.S. 176 in District 29. During his time at P.S. 176, Vitolano completed his school leadership internship and served on the Principal’s Instructional Cabinet. He also helped launch a new specialized math instruction initiative called Algebra for All and oversaw the school’s departmentalized 5th grade. Vitolano earned a Bachelor of Arts in Communications from Loyola University (Maryland), a Master of Science in Education from Hofstra University, and an Advanced Graduate Certificate in Educational Leadership from the State University of New York at Stony Brook.

 

"I am deeply honored and excited to step into the role of principal at Paumanok. Having served as the assistant principal here for six years, I have seen firsthand the dedication and passion of our students, staff and community," said Vitolano. "I am committed to continuing our tradition of excellence and fostering an inclusive environment where every student feels valued and empowered. Together, we will work to ensure Paumanok remains a special place where children come first."