Dr. Schneider Retiring as Syosset High Principal

In the late 1960s Dr. Jorge Schneider left his job in retail sales to become a teacher in the New York City school system. What followed was an impressive career in education spanning four decades that ends next month as he retires after serving for the past 22 years as principal of Syosset High School.

"I initially became a teacher simply because I wanted to spend more time with my wife," says Dr. Schneider. "I worked in retail and she was a teacher. I was sleeping when she went to work. She was sleeping when I came home. We never saw each other."

"As an economics major at City College of New York, I found relaxation in taking Spanish literature courses," explains Dr. Schneider, who had come from Argentina at the age of 14 not speaking a word of English. "It turned out I had earned enough credits to teach Spanish, so I decided to try it." Once in front of a class, he was hooked. "The first day, I came home and told my wife 'I have found my calling' and that was it."

After teaching Spanish for 11 years, he spent nine years in Lawrence as dean of students, assistant principal and principal, before coming to Syosset in 1988. Over the years he earned three masters degrees (in Spanish literature, administration and reading), but it is his Ph.D. in cognition (now known as literacy) that Dr. Schneider feels has served him particularly well as principal. "It has helped me recognize problems with students and personally help them," he says.

"Dr. Schneider has a natural ability to stay calm in difficult situations," says long-time chemistry teacher JoAnn Competiello. "Any time I went to him with an issue to resolve, it always had a smooth ending." And PTSA President Marcia Sparer notes, "His door is always open, and he is ready to listen. Our students have been privileged to have him."

What gives Dr. Schneider the greatest pleasure is being involved directly with the students. "Kids don't upset me – adults do," he says. "And if I am upset, I just go out and talk to some students. They always put me back in a good frame of mind."

And for their part, the students seem to feel the same way. "He is so very supportive of every student initiative and continues to be a great source of guidance to myself and my peers," says Syosset senior and Student Government President Frank Colleluori. "Dr. Schneider's approachable demeanor makes him the type of principal a student would want to know."

As principal of Syosset, Dr. Schneider has seen over 12,000 kids graduate. He's been amazed by the phone calls he's gotten from alumni since he announced his coming retirement: "They're telling me how I touched their lives and it makes me think 'OK, I've contributed' – there's no greater satisfaction."

Dr. Schneider is proud of the school's growth under his leadership. "We were an all-Regents high school years before the Education Department made it a requirement," he notes. In addition, he helped develop the theater arts program and a comprehensive research program that now results in multiple Intel Award winners every year. Superintendent of Schools Dr. Carole Hankin commented, "Syosset has been fortunate to have Dr. Jorge Schneider as high school principal. He's an outstanding administrator and a great leader."

As for his retirement, Dr. Schneider plans to travel the world with his wife, Susan, who is retiring from her fifth grade teaching position in East Meadow schools. He'll work on his tennis and golf games, and spend winters skiing in Vermont. "Most retirees go south to the warmth – we're going north," he jokes. "I look forward to being able to go skiing on a weekday."

He also plans to spend time with his grandchildren. There are four now, with a fifth on the way. "My true legacy is my grandson – he's starting kindergarten in September and will be in the high school in nine years." When that happens, he will see the name 'Jorge E. Schneider' engraved at the bottom of a plaque listing the names of class valedictorians that hangs in the school. And, undoubtedly, he will hear many stories about how much his grandfather means to the past, present and future of Syosset High School.

Reflecting back on his life-changing decision 42 years ago to become a teacher, Dr. Schneider wouldn't change a thing.

"After all, business is business," he says. "But educating kids – that is truly making a difference."