Scarsdale High School recently welcomed Ms. Laura Weiss as the new Assistant Principal for Academics and Operations, taking over from Chris Welsh. In this role, Ms. Weiss will be responsible for class scheduling, grading, assessment, and classroom and facilities maintenance. She brings a wealth of experience to the position, having previously served as the Assistant Principal at both the middle and high school in the Carmel Central School District. Before her administrative roles, she taught English in New York City for twelve years where she began her career with the New York City Teaching Fellows program, working in underserved schools and eventually becoming a department chair.
Ms. Weiss comes from a long line of educators in her family, and her passion for teaching and school leadership is clear. She was drawn to Scarsdale High School because of its well-known reputation for academic excellence and innovation. She is especially excited about the school’s ongoing work in assessment and teacher development— areas she is eager to explore and contribute to during her tenure. In her first year at SHS, Ms. Weiss plans to focus on listening and learning, with the goal of understanding the unique culture of our school and the needs of its faculty, staff, and students. She is already impressed by the school’s “grounded sense of self and vision for what public education is and should be.”
Ms. Weiss enjoys working with teenagers because she loves witnessing their transformation, explaining how she enjoys “watching the growth that happens from freshman to senior year,” and seeing students “grow into people who can advocate for themselves and go out and change the world.” As a mother of two teenagers herself—a senior and a freshman—Ms. Weiss understands the challenges young people face and believes strongly in the importance of listening to them. She knows that being heard is a crucial part of a student’s development and aims to support them in navigating this pivotal period of their lives.
At Scarsdale High School, Ms. Weiss plans to continue promoting student engagement by organizing focus groups on specific topics. However, she also values informal interactions and plans to be visible in hallways and classrooms, hoping that students will see her as approachable. “This world right now is filled with a lot of pressure,” she explains, “so I really try to think about how I can best support kids to achieve their dreams and goals. And that can look different from student to student.” For Ms. Weiss, the key is ensuring that each student feels individually supported in a way that aligns with their personal aspirations.
Ms. Weiss characterizes herself as competitive. Outside of her professional life, she enjoys athletic pursuits that offer balance and fuel her competitive spirit. She was a varsity swimmer throughout college and still enjoys finding time to swim whenever she can. She is also an avid runner, describing it as a meditative activity that helps her de-stress after a long day. Over the years, she has participated in triathlons and duathlons, pushing herself both physically and mentally. As an active member of New York Road Runners, having completed a half marathons, she is currently working to qualify for next year’s New York City Marathon.
With her extensive experience and dedication to education, Ms. Weiss is poised to make a meaningful impact on Scarsdale High School, helping to shape its academic future while maintaining its tradition of excellence. Welcome to Scarsdale Assistant Principal Weiss!
