Reinstated Elmont principal Kevin Dougherty is leaving the district

A popular principal whose unexpected departure from Elmont Memorial High School at the start of the school year led to student and parent protests before his reinstatement weeks later is leaving the district in June, according to school officials.

An email to parents earlier this month said principal Kevin Dougherty “will be leaving the District and his position at EMHS, effective June 30, 2023."

“Mr. Dougherty has worked tirelessly for the District and has introduced many innovative programs at Elmont Memorial High School that continue to enrich the student experience. We thank him for his service to the community,” the notice read. “He will be greatly missed.”

Dougherty could not be reached for comment this week but in an April 5 letter to the community, he said: "It is with a heavy heart that I announce June 30, 2023 will be my last day as Principal at Elmont Memorial High School. The Elmont community has been amazing to me and my family over the last 8 years and I will cherish the memories that we have. I look forward to staying in touch and hearing about the amazing things our outstanding scholars go on to achieve. "

Officials in the Sewanhaka Central High School District said they will start a search to fill his position as soon as possible. No other information was provided.

Parents, alumni and students had protested outside Elmont Memorial High School at the start of the school year after the district reported that Dougherty was on “sabbatical” just days before classes started.

He was reinstated in October with school officials apologizing to “all those affected,” but no further information was given at the time.

Lynette Battle, president of the school’s Parent Teacher Student Association who has a son in 11th grade, said in a note to parents earlier this month that Dougherty had maintained a 97% high school graduation rate, reduced the student suspension rate and created a safe space for Muslim students to practice their faith during the Holy Season.

“We lost compassion, dedication and a member of our Elmont family,” she wrote.

In an interview earlier this week, she said that Dougherty “changed the culture in that school.” His departure “is going to be at the disservice of our children. And we don't know for what reason.”

She said she wished Dougherty well in his future but was sorry to see him leave the school.

Grossane, the district’s superintendent, declined further comment. The Sewanhaka schools are off this week.

Board president Michael Jaime could not immediately be reached for comment Thursday.

District officials initially told parents in an email at the start of the school year that Dougherty was "taking a sabbatical leave of absence for the 2022-2023 school year." In a response to a Newsday Freedom of Information Law request to the district asking for any documents related to a sabbatical approval or application, the district responded that "the district does not maintain any records" related to that request. Other requests for records are still pending.

Battle said that the district has continued to keep parents in the dark.

“They never gave us an explanation as to why he went on sabbatical and came right back. That was the shortest sabbatical in history,” she said.