A Letter of Introduction: Todd Widrick, Principal Otto Shortell Middle School

November 1, 2013 Dear Parents, Staff, Students, and Stakeholders, I hope this letter finds you enjoying a fantastic school year. As the newly appointed principal of Otto Shortell Middle School, it is my sincere pleasure and honor to be part of such a respected institution. I am looking forward to working with the dedicated staff, administration, and parents to provide the best possible educational program for our students of the Oneida City School District. Otto Shortell Middle School enjoys a rich history of fully preparing its students to be successful academically and socially at the high school. This is a direct result of the partnership between the school staff and parents who provide a diversity of experiences for the students. I feel very fortunate to have been appointed principal at a school where it is evident that the focus is on what is best for the students. I have been in the field of education for over 28 years. I spent 15 years as a middle school English teacher in the Westhill School District in Syracuse, NY before advancing to Cazenovia College as an adjunct professor and basketball coach. I also served as the Head of the English Department in the Cazenovia Central School District while teaching several levels of high school English. In addition to my various teaching positions, I also coached basketball at Westhill High School, Cazenovia College, Cazenovia High School, and DeRuyter High School. Most recently, I have held the position of Assistant Principal at Oneida High School. I have two children, Trent, who is 23 and employed by JP Morgan in NYC, and Tori, who is 20 and a junior at Ball State University. My wifes name is Sherry and we reside in Verona Beach. Parents, teachers, support staff, community and administration all have important roles in encouraging our students to become life-long learners. It is my desire to provide opportunities for our students to acquire the skills necessary to become productive citizens in our changing society. Through a close partnership with everyone associated with Otto Shortell Middle School, I am confident that we can continue having a very successful school year. Please feel free to stop in and say hello, as my door is always open. If there is anything that I can assist you with, please do not hesitate to contact me. My email address is twidrick@oneidacsd.org and my phone number is (315) 363-1050. Sincerely, Todd Widrick Principal Otto Shortell Middle School