“Every morning, I wake up and can’t wait to get here.” School has been in session for a couple of months and saying our new principal Danielle Trippodo is excited to be at Ardsley High School is an understatement. Previously, a science teacher at Kingston High School and then the Assistant Principal at Brewster High School, Ms. Trippodo continues her administrative experience as the new Principal at AHS. Coming into the year, Ms. Trippodo said she did not know what to expect, but reality has surpassed anything she could have hoped for. She notes that “students are incredible. These students are among the kindest, most hardworking, and most genuine individuals across the board.” More than that, she feels that Ardsley fosters a sense of community that is unique to our school. Not only has Ms. Trippodo seen students take initiative, but she “noticed that faculty and staff continuously participate in opportunities to learn more.”
Because this is her first year, Ms. Trippodo does not plan to implement any drastic changes, but rather her “goal is to learn -- about the students, community, culture, curriculum.” In order to move forward with positive change, she intends to have a clear understanding of the different dynamics that exist.
Health is extremely important to Ms. Trippodo: both mental and physical. One of the highlights at Ardsley for Ms. Trippodo is “our focus on wellness and the work that our counselors do. It is extremely progressive, current, and what students need.” She says, “Health is always at the forefront.” For high school students, she thinks that checking stress levels while balancing school work and involvement in the community is extremely important. On a personal level, Ms. Trippodo aims to stay healthy by going to boot camps and cross-fit classes. She also said, “Outside of work, I love going to college-level athletic contests. My brother went to West Point and I am a huge Army fan.” Along with college-level football and hockey games, she loves going to AHS sporting events to support our students.
Participating in sports played a significant role during Ms. Trippodo’s high school career. She was a year-round athlete. She did gymnastics, cheerleading, track and field, and was even on the diving team. Ms. Trippodo explains, “Athletics kept me connected. This connection reinforced my drive to do well academically.” When she was a teacher at Kingston, she coached boys’ and girls’ varsity track and junior varsity girls’ volleyball. She had even coached cross country skiing.
When Ms. Trippodo reminisces about her own high school experience, she particularly values the opportunities that she had to try and fail and try again and overcome challenges. As a student in high school, things did not come easily so Ms. Trippodo had to work hard to earn her grades. She often stayed for extra help and needed to be on a structured schedule. However, she comments, “I appreciate these experiences as they have led to grit and resilience.” Ms. Trippodo also made an effort to take different courses to get exposure to a wide array of areas and become well-rounded.
Ms. Trippodo taught science, including Living Environment and Human Pathology, for ten years. She says, “Every day, I miss being in the classroom. I know if I don’t miss being in the class, I won’t be as effective as an administrator.” From her teaching experience, she feels that she learned a lot about the dynamics of a classroom and how students interact. She also understands the amount of work that the faculty does every day. Hearing from students, faculty, and parents has encouraged Ms. Trippodo to embrace these other perspectives. She has gained worthwhile feedback from students which she uses to help “shape [her] style of leadership and approach.”
Away from school, Ms. Trippodo spends quality time with her family. Her husband is an Assistant Superintendent for a school district in Sullivan County. They live in Windsor with their four-year-old son, Patrick. Ms. Trippodo laughs, “My interests are whatever he’s interested in!” During her long commute to school, one hour on a good day, Ms. Trippodo listens to a range of music. She likes many different types, from reggae to the Dave Matthews Band, and everything in between.
Ms. Trippodo immediately felt welcome at Ardsley High School. She said that students have been coming up to her since the first day of school, shaking her hand and introducing themselves. She is especially looking forward to getting to know each student, and emphasized, “My door is always open for my students.”