New Principal On Campus

Dr. Dennis Degnan, Ed.D., Principal

 

 

The Lincoln Lion Gazette recently had the privilege to interview Lincoln Community School’s new principal, Dr. Dennis Degnan, Ed.D . When asked how does it feel to be the new principal, Dr. Degnan replied, “Words can not explain how excited I am to be the new principal at Lincoln Community School. I have spent the last eleven years of my life auditioning for this position. My time spent organizing the Washington Community School Summer Day Camp as well as educational experience in my doctoral studies have given me the tools to succeed as a principal. I would like to thank our Superintendent, Dr. Patricia L. McGeehen, Ed.D. for this wonderful opportunity. Dr. Degnan is not a new face to the Bayonne School System, he has been employed by the district for eleven years. While in college, he acted as a substitute teacher and an educational assistant at Henry Harris and Washington School respectively. He was appointed as a teacher of Biological Science in 1995-1996 and assigned to the high school as a secondary education biology teacher. During the 2002-2003 school year he was named Vice Principal of House 6. A position he held till July 19, 2007, when he was named principal of our dynamic school! We asked him how the transition has been from being a High School Vice Principal to now an Elementary Principal, and Dr. Degnan answered, “I was very fortunate to work with a transformational leader, Mr. Baccarella. He was a high school vice principal and elementary principal at Washington School. He modeled the management skills that I would need in this new capacity. I also had the opportunity to work with an administrative team. The other five vice principals in the high school were my friends and we formed a collaborative and supportive group to trouble-shoot and problem solve tasks at hand. They went above and beyond to accept me into the group and take me under their wing. Because of all the support from the secondary level, the transition to the elementary school has been a smooth one. I was trained by the best!” Dr. Degnan also added that his favorite thing about working here at LCS is the family-like atmosphere. “Everyone contributes to a positive educational experience, from parents and support staff to students and teachers. Also, the school uniforms have set a positive educational environment. I'm happy that the students follow the rules and wear the appropriate school uniform.” It sounds like Dr. Degnan is just as excited to be here as we are to have him!