ITHACA, NY (607NewsNow) — The new school year means some new faces in the Ithaca City School District.

At the district level, Kari Burke was appointed director of Athletics and Wellness. She previously served as director of Health Services and Wellness in the district for the past 6 years. Working with her is Shane Taylor, who’ll serve as assistant director under Burke’s leadership. In addition, Caitlin Bram is moving from her role as principal at Fall Creek Elementary to become director of Special Education.

According to a press release from the district, there are additional leadership changes:

Ithaca High School

Ithaca High School (IHS) welcomes new principal Caren Arnold, who assumed leadership of the school on July 1, following the retirement of longtime principal Jason Trumble.

Joining Arnold’s leadership team at IHS are newly appointed associate principals, Julie McChesney and Terrance King. McChesney joins from TST BOCES and brings
experience in inclusive education and speech-language pathology. King brings a strong background in equity and special education. Together with returning associate principals Patrick Hovey and Scott Breigle, they will work to foster a positive and inclusive learning environment for all IHS students.

Lehman Alternative School

Keith Harrington has been named principal of Lehman Alternative Community School (LACS), following the retirement of Deborah Ptak. Harrington brings 15 years of classroom teaching and nine years of educational leadership experience, most recently as principal of Enfi eld Elementary. He is committed to alternative education, democratic values, and hands-on learning.

Boynton Middle School

Bart Auble has been appointed as the new associate principal of Boynton Middle School. Auble brings over two decades of experience in the ICSD, including as associate principal and Educator for Inclusion at several elementary schools, and 13 years as a special education teacher and CSE Chair at LACS. He is deeply committed to inclusive practices and hands-on, student-centered learning.

Elementary Schools

Stephen Anderson has been named principal of Enfi eld Elementary. Anderson brings a deep passion for place-based and equity-centered education and is returning to his elementary roots after service as a dean of students at IHS and, most recently, the Educator for Inclusion at Boynton and DeWitt middle schools.

Tara Caiza will serve as principal of Fall Creek Elementary. A former Fall Creek student and experienced ICSD educator and administrator — most recently as Boynton’s associate principal — Caiza brings extensive experience in inclusive instruction, leadership, and community engagement.

Samantha Little has been named principal of Beverly J. Martin Elementary (BJM), after serving as acting principal since February. A seasoned leader in the ICSD for the past 22 years, she has held the roles of school counselor at BJM, associate principal at Ithaca High School, principal at South Hill, acting principal at Northeast, and, most recently, Director of Athletics and Wellness for the district. A proud former BJM parent, Samantha brings a deep commitment to relationships, communication, and student and staff well-being.

Jessa Salibrici joins Caroline Elementary as the new principal. She brings extensive experience as a vice principal, literacy coach, and educator in the Syracuse City School District, with a strong focus on building trust, collaboration, and academic excellence.