Dear Central High School Community,

I hope you all are finding the opportunity to rest and relax over the summer months. I am writing today to share some important updates as we prepare for the upcoming school year.

At the end of the 2023-2024 school year, three members of the Central High School faculty handed in their keys and kicked up their feet for retirement. Please join me in congratulating Food Services manager Deana Gray-Williams, Spanish teacher Adriana Cannizzo and Social Studies teacher Jeffrey Price who each retired with over 25+ years in the School District of Philadelphia. Their contributions to the Central community over the years are immeasurable. Please join me in wishing our three retirees a wonderful retirement. 

At the end of the 2023-2024 school year, we also said goodbye to four members of the Central High School faculty as they transitioned into new roles. Please join me in wishing the best of luck to English Department teachers Benjamin Hover, Laura Cid and Rob Paul as they begin the next chapter of their careers. Ms. Cid has returned home to Illinois to continue teaching English, Mr. Paul transitioned into a new role as an Academic Coach with the School District of Philadelphia and Mr. Hover begins a new role as Philadelphia Federation of Teachers Legislative Representative. After ten years of dedicated service at Central High School, assistant principal Theresa Harrington is transitioning into a new role as assistant principal at Widener Memorial School. We wish all of the former Faculty nothing but the best in their new roles!

When one door closes, another one opens. Please join me in welcoming teachers Julia Arredondo and Meghan Manley to the English Department, as well as teachers Sally Bai and Maria Recio to the World Language Department. Food Services manager Karen Smith joins our cafeteria team. Assistant principal Walter Myrick, a member of Central’s 251st class, joins our administrative team. I am in the process of hiring a third English teacher and a fourth assistant principal for the upcoming school year and look forward to sharing their information with our school community once finalized. Please expect more detailed introductions from our newest faculty members in August. 

The Central faculty are enjoying their summer vacations through mid-August and will return to the school building on August 20. They will begin reaching out and catching up on summer emails at that time. Until then, I hope you all continue to enjoy your summers. Be in touch soon!

Fondly,

President Katharine Davis, 264