Long Island students win PSEG competition

Twenty-five Long Island students have been honored for promoting energy conservation in creative ways.

The students were named winners of PSEG Long Island’s seventh annual "I Am EM-Powered" contest for public service announcements they created about conserving energy. The contest received more than 150 video submissions on topics including taking shorter showers, unplugging fully charged devices and using LED lights to save energy.

The 45-second videos, created by teams of up to four students in grades 4 through 8, ranged from a mock newscast to a musical act to a skit involving an "energy fairy."

"Become your own energy fairy and conserve energy in your own home," Anjali Balaguer, a sixth grader at James H. Vernon School in East Norwich, said in her winning video. "You will not only be saving money, but also your community and the planet."

Isabella Cardenas, a seventh grader at Woodland Middle School in East Meadow, said: "Small choices today can help our planet for tomorrow."

Other winners and their school districts: Will Chero, Francis Luksich and T.J. Sini, Babylon; Tallulah Frank, Layla Hacker, Mackenna McGhee, Maleah Militana, Madison Pauxtis and Sofia Sand, Northport-East Northport; Madeleine Petrara, Oyster Bay-East Norwich; Riley Busacca, Marcelo Maria, Gabby Montenarello, Hunter Vaccaro, Matthew Vitale and Parker Woods, Sachem; Benjamin Plouffe, Emerson Wade and Finley Wade, Sayville; and Autumn Booth, Emilee Erickson, Scarlet Jack and Aria O’Malley, West Islip.

The winners received $75 gift cards, and their teachers received $100 gift cards and another $100 for a class party, according to PSEG.

To view the videos, visit bit.ly/3SWbzNa.

BALDWIN

New principal

André H. Poprilo is the new principal of Baldwin High School. He replaced Neil Testa, who is now executive director of human resources for the Locust Valley Central School District.

Poprilo served the past 11 years as the director of fine and performing arts for the Baldwin Union Free School District. He has also served as assistant principal and coordinator of fine and technical arts for the Copiague school district.

"I look forward to building on our strong tradition of excellence by ensuring every student feels connected, challenged and supported while expanding opportunities that prepare them to be ‘future ready,’ " Poprilo said in a statement.

MASSAPEQUA PARK

New BOCES principal

Alyssa Davoli has been appointed principal of the Nassau BOCES Carman Road School, which provides educational services for students with disabilities. She replaced Gina DaRocha, who retired.

Davoli previously served as an assistant principal at the school, which she joined nearly 10 years ago, and started as a preschool-primary special education teacher. She has also worked as a special education teacher at the Hagedorn Little Village School in Seaford.

"I intend to build upon the strong foundation of Carman Road School by working collaboratively with staff to implement best practices, support high-quality instruction and ensure that each student is taught the skills they need to succeed," Davoli said in a statement.

NORTH MERRICK

New principal

Meghan Dixon has been named principal of Old Mill Road Elementary School. She replaced Dominick Palma, who held the position on an interim basis.

Dixon was previously assistant principal of John Lewis Childs Elementary School in Floral Park. Before that, she was an assistant principal at Daniel Street Elementary School in Lindenhurst and P.S. 24 Andrew Jackson in Flushing, Queens.

"I am honored and excited to join the North Merrick Schools community," Dixon said in a statement.

"Together, we will continue to foster a school culture centered on collaboration, belonging and academic excellence."

COMMACK

New principal

Lisa DeRienzo has been named principal of Mandracchia Sawmill Intermediate School in the Commack Union Free School District. She replaced Michelle Tancredi Zott, who retired.

DeRienzo served for the past four years as a curriculum associate in the district and before that was coordinator of elementary English language arts for the Half Hollow Hills Central School District in Dix Hills.

"I believe that literacy is the foundation of all opportunities and I am committed to ensuring that every student at Sawmill receives an education rooted in excellence," DeRienzo said in a statement.

DEER PARK

New principal

Lynn Coyle has been named principal of John Quincy Adams Primary School in the Deer Park School District. She replaced Christopher Molinelli, who is now principal of Miller Avenue Elementary School in Shoreham.

Coyle served for the past two years as principal of Park Avenue Elementary School in North Bellmore, and before that was an associate principal at John Quincy Adams. She has also been an elementary teacher in the Islip Union Free School District.

"I look forward to working together with our dedicated faculty, staff and families to build on the great work already happening and help ensure every child feels known, supported and inspired to learn each day," Coyle said in a statement.

SHOREHAM

New principal

Claudia Smith has been appointed principal of Albert G. Prodell Middle School in the Shoreham-Wading River Central School District. She replaced Kevin Vann, who retired.

Smith served for the past seven years as principal of the district’s Miller Avenue Elementary School. She was also a teacher in the Middle Country Central School District for 17 years and was an elementary and middle school assistant principal in the Port Jefferson School District.

"The middle school years are such a formative time, when students are discovering their passions and their sense of self and I can’t wait to be part of that journey," Smith said in a statement.

By Michael R. Ebert

michael.ebert@newsday.com

Michael R. Ebert is an education researcher and has worked for Newsday in various capacities since 2003. He was part of an 11-person team named as 2008 Pulitzer Prize finalists for investigative coverage of the LIRR's platform safety issues.