New Southampton Superintendent Excited to Return to East End

Southampton School District's incoming superintendent is no stranger to the East End.

Scott Farina, Ph.D., who was officially appointed Friday with a start date of July 1, was the principal of East Hampton High School for four years. “When I was out here before, I fell in love with the place," he said of the area on Saturday. He took another job opportunity in 2007, but as soon as he left he knew he had made a mistake, he said.

“I made some very close connections with people in the community and I’ve kept those connections," he said. He added that he admires the diversity on the East End and he is an avid outdoorsman who enjoys the surroundings.

Farina said he has been looking to come back to the East End ever since his departure. He lived in Northwest Woods then, and plans to move back to East Hampton Town or to Southampton Town when he returns to assume his new post.

“I’m looking forward to the increased responsibility and the accountability," he said. "I really do not shy away from either of those.”

Also, he said he is looking forward to working with the district staff. He added that he has no preconceived notions on how the district should be run, and prefers to build on everyone's talents.

Prior to his appointment by a vote of the school board vote on Friday evening, Farina spent the day "meeting and greeting" staff members, and he said he will begin "transition days" this week, in which he will spend time at the district getting to know the school buildings and the students. He will also meet with community associations.

One of his primary goals as superintendent will be to close the achievement gap between different socioeconomic groups, and he said he will take a student-centered and data-centered approach.

Farina holds a doctorate in biological physical chemistry from Drexel University in Philadelphia, and was a high school chemistry, math and physics teacher before entering the administration side of education. Most recently, he was an administrative consultant in Chester County, Pa.  He compared the job to working in BOCES. Prior to that, he worked as an assistant superintendent and high school principal in the Garnet Valley School District in Glen Mills, Pa.

Since the inception of the superintendent search, Southampton School District has had a very thorough process with in-depth discussions and community involvement, Farina said. After his appointment, the School Board hosted a welcoming reception. “It was nice to see that the community had a real interest in the educational process,” he said.