The Monticello Central School District is excited to announce that long-time Monticello educator Jennifer Gorr has been appointed as principal of Monticello High School, effective in the 2024-25 school year.
Born into a family of educators, Ms. Gorr’s career in public education began in a special education classroom, where she worked as a teacher assistant. It was in this setting where she discovered her passion for serving students with special needs, and where she was inspired to pursue teacher certification in that area. After receiving her teacher certification in special education, she worked in the Independent Academic Therapeutic Program (ITAP) at BOCES, serving students throughout the county. During that time, she completed her administrative certification, eventually joining the Monticello Central School District team as Supervisor of Special Education. When the district launched its new St. John Street Community School, Ms. Gorr was hired as principal, building and overseeing the preschool and alternative high school programs from the ground up.
Under her tutelage, both programs blossomed. The preschool program provides a strong academic foundation to ensure students are well-positioned for academic success in kindergarten and beyond. The alternative high school program saw a 100% graduation rate in its first year.
“My background in special education and experiences working with various stakeholders in through the ITAP program helped me to build the skills to develop relationships and be able to work with students on all levels,” Ms. Gorr said. “It’s those relationships – with both students and staff — that propelled the success of these programs.”
With Monticello High School’s population significantly higher than that of the St. John Street school, the new role will offer the opportunity to impact a larger community. She says that she is looking forward to building on the strengths of each student staff member to meet the goals of the district.
“I am vested in this community; this is my ninth year in the district,” Ms. Gorr said. “I see the value in each and every member of our team and I’m looking forward to cultivating an atmosphere where everyone feels valued and that their voices are being heard. Together, we will create a culture of success that will empower our educators to become leaders in their own right, and enable our students to thrive.”