Dear GNPS Community,
I am pleased to announce that it is anticipated that the Board of Education, at the June 3 Board meeting, will appoint Mr. Joseph Schumpf as the new assistant principal of E.M. Baker Elementary School effective July 1, 2026, following the appointment of Dr. Heather Sweet-Lazos as principal in March.
Mr. Schumpf comes to Great Neck from Valley Stream District 24, where he has worked at William L. Buck Elementary School since 2008. He has 18 years of classroom experience as a special education teacher, general education teacher, and math academic intervention specialist. For the past five years, Mr. Schumpf has taken on added responsibilities as the teacher-in-charge at the K-6 school, overseeing matters of student discipline and conflict resolution, staff scheduling, and other administrative duties in the absence of the building principal.
Additionally, Mr. Schumpf gained valuable administrative experience while serving as principal and assistant principal of the BOCES Regional Summer School in Valley Stream District 24 last summer. In these roles, he provided instructional and operational oversight of a K-6 educational and enrichment summer program for diverse learners. I am confident that Mr. Schumpf’s experience and deep understanding of the academic and social-emotional needs of elementary students will make him a strong addition to the leadership team at E.M. Baker.
Mr. Schumpf holds a Master of Science in Education from Long Island University and a Bachelor of Arts in Education from St. Joseph’s College. He earned a certificate in School Building Leadership from Stony Brook University.
On behalf of the Board of Education, I extend my appreciation to the members of our search committee for dedicating their time and thoughtful consideration throughout this important process.
I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Ms. Kathleen Murray, who has served as an exceptional acting assistant principal at E.M. Baker this year. We wish Ms. Murray well in her re-retirement, and we look forward to welcoming Mr. Schumpf to our district.
Sincerely,
Kenneth R. Bossert, Ed.D.
Superintendent of Schools