• Duzine and Lenape Elementary Schools Welcome New Assistant Principal from Among the Ranks

     

    The New Paltz Central School District (NPCSD) is pleased to announce that Llajaira Dessereau will assume the role of Assistant Principal for both Duzine Elementary and Lenape Elementary Schools. Her responsibilities will involve testing and data information services, teacher observations and evaluations, participating in district/building level committee work, conducting professional development, DASA investigating, 504 chairing, supporting implementation of Elementary curriculum, and support for multi-tiered systems of support processes. 



    Dessereau has been working with and supporting elementary students and staff in different capacities since 2021 as the District’s first Supervisor of Elementary Instruction for Kindergarten through Grade 6. In that role she oversaw approximately 65 teachers and ensured that the District’s new Bridges math curriculum was being used effectively in all three schools. She was also charged with seeing that the curriculum’s implementation is being supported by professional development opportunities and dedicated curriculum specialists.

     

    Dessereau grew up in the Bronx and Manhattan. She holds an Advanced Certificate for School Building Leader/School District Leader (SBL/SDL) from Touro College and a Master’s degree in Education from the University of Scranton, where she focused on Psychology and Early Childhood Education. She also earned a Bachelor of Science in Psychology, with a minor in Early Education. 

     

    Dessereau was a classroom teacher for roughly 12 years in a charter school in Spanish Harlem, New York. During her time there she taught Grades 1, 3 and 5 until she was promoted to the title of staff developer. She held this position for three years prior to working for the NPCSD. “These positions allowed me to develop the knowledge and skills to best support students both academically and socially,” she explained. 

     

    Dessereau says she believes in teaching the whole child. “I believe there should be a balance between allowing the student to learn through play, exploration, pushing boundaries, and supporting academic needs with data driven instruction,” she said. “This is a careful balance that all staff members in a school setting should support, since it takes a village to raise a child.”  

     

    Duzine Elementary Principal Ross Hogan has worked with Dessereau and appreciates all of the skills she brings to support the curriculum as well as the students’ learning. “We are so excited to have Ms. Dessereau joining us in this role at Duzine. Her time thus far in the district has demonstrated that she has an unwavering dedication to doing what is best for kids. Her breadth of experience at the elementary level will serve as an asset for the children of our district."

     

    Lenape Elementary Principal Sean Inglee said that an assistant principal is not just a leader, but “a cornerstone of support with a heart dedicated to student growth and well-being.” He added that he sees Dessereau as nurturing, and fostering an environment of inclusivity. “The genuine connection with students bridges the gap between authority and empathy, making her a steadfast advocate for success.”