Mr. Rich Hoffmann - Principal

Dear Students and Families,

I am honored and humbled to introduce myself to you as the new Principal of River Elementary School. I feel very blessed to be part of a school community that is as committed to academic excellence as it is to the social, emotional, and physical development of every child. I have served the Patchogue-Medford School District for the past 8 ½ years as an Assistant Principal at PMHS, and I am excited to have the opportunity to lead River Elementary School for many years to come. I thank Dr. Dalley for her many years of progressive leadership, and for handing me a building that is truly full of shining stars.

I began my career in education almost 20 years ago, after many successful years in the telecom industry. Before becoming a school administrator, I was a teacher of Mathematics and Business in grades 6-12. During my time at PMHS, I was responsible for the oversight of several academic and socio-emotional support programs, many of which I am now working on to adapt for use at the elementary level. I am thrilled to bring my skills as an educator and educational leader to River Elementary School, and I look forward to working with this dedicated community, as a partner in education who is equally committed to our students’ success.

On a personal note, I have been married for 30 years and have two adult children. Both my wife and I are avid readers and we have worked hard to pass our love of literature on to our children from the time that they were young. There is an old television commercial from the 1970’s that stated, “reading is fundamental”. This is something that I honestly believe. Reading ignites imagination, and imagination ignites learning. Learning is a life-long process that starts with a single positive spark. I promise you that I will work tirelessly with everyone in our school community to ignite a passion for reading and learning in each child that comes through our doors.

In the brief time that I have been at River Elementary School, I have already learned so much about what makes this building special. The powerful sense of community is readily evident in everything that we do here. I am excited to bring my unique skill set, my passion for teaching and learning, and my child-centered approach to River Elementary School. In my eyes, the family-school relationship is vital to the success of our students, and I encourage you to reach out to me early and often, and to become involved in your child’s education in every way possible.  I look forward to meeting you soon!  

Sincerely,

Rich Hoffmann, Principal