The Rye City School District named Andrew Hara, Nick Clair, Jim Boylan, Annie Piekarski and Angela Garcia as its honorees for National Principals Month, recognizing the five building leaders in an announcement Thursday, Oct. 1.
Each principal oversees one of the district's five schools: Hara at Rye High School, Clair at Rye Middle School, Boylan at Midland School, Piekarski at Milton School and Garcia at Osborn School. The three elementary campuses feed into Rye Middle, and students then move on to Rye High.
The district said its principals help bring what it calls "The Rye Commitment" to life, creating environments where students think critically, communicate effectively and build meaningful relationships.
Hara, the Rye High principal, has been a visible presence at major school events in recent months. He led the school's 95th commencement ceremony at Nugent Stadium on Thursday, June 18, welcoming graduates and reflecting on their accomplishments in academics, athletics, the arts and community service.
On Friday, Sept. 11, Hara led a ceremony at Nugent Stadium marking the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. He recognized local first responders and introduced school counselor Honor Fagan, sister of Welles Crowther, the Westchester native known as "The Man in the Red Bandana."
"This was a season for the ages for Rye athletics, not only because of the incredible success our teams achieved … but because of the culture that made that success possible," Hara said in an Aug. 31 Rye Record article about the school's record-breaking 2025-26 season.
That emphasis on culture runs through the district's description of all five principals' roles. The district said their work spans classrooms, hallways, schoolwide events and family connections.
Superintendent Dr. Tricia Murray joined all five principals outside school buildings on Tuesday, Sept. 8, to greet students arriving for the first day of the 2026-27 school year, according to a separate district announcement.
No specific community events tied to the recognition have been announced. National Principals Month runs through the end of October.
