Cal-Mum names Paul Estabrooks as Middle School Principal

   Caledonia-Mumford Central School named Paul Estabrooks as its middle school principal. The appointment was made official at the November 18 board of education meeting. Estabrooks begins a three-year probationary appointment on January 1, 2009.

   Estabrooks comes from the Canandaigua Central School where he is eighth grade principal, responsible for 355 students and supervising 89 staff members. Prior to that, he also served as an assistant principal at Canandaigua Middle School. Estabrooks is a Cal-Mum High School alumnus who attended St. Bonaventure University where he completed his undergraduate studies in 1991. He went on to earn a master’s degree in administration, curriculum and instruction from the New Jersey City University in 1999.

   He began his teaching degree in New Jersey, teaching social studies and technology to alternative education students at Pinelands Regional Middle School. After returning to his home state of New York, Estabrooks became principal of South Seneca Middle School from 2000 to 2003.

    Estabrooks describes his return to the Red Raider family at Caledonia-Mumford as "dream come true." He says returning to Cal-Mum as a middle school principal has been on his mind since his high school graduation.

   "It’s a lifetime achievement; a dream come true. It was my goal right from high school to someday come back to Cal-Mum as principal," Estabrooks commented.

   The middle school principal says he received an excellent education at Caledonia-Mumford and many of the lessons he learned there as a student, he’s taken with him throughout his career as a teacher and principal.

   "I learned to learning at Cal-Mum. I’m still a lifelong learner and because of that, I come with a large toolbox of strategies to help student learning," he explained.

   Estabrooks describes himself as a principal who is student centered and a leader of teachers.

   "All students can and deserve to learn. I am an advocate for students so that they received the best possible education. In my office is a sign that reads, "Students first, students always."

   Estabrooks says he will make meeting and greeting the students a priority in the first few days of his new post. He plans to do that by being present at the bus loop and by visiting each and every classroom in the first several days of his arrival. He plans to familiarize himself with the culture of the school and community and has plans to organize a parent round table where he will meet informally with parents to discuss issues surrounding their middle school student. He says character education is one of his priorities. He plans to learn what kinds of initiatives are already in place at the middle school and expand on those by inviting various specialists in to work with students.

   Estabrooks has two passions, adolescent learners and community. He said it was just a couple of years ago when his father, owner of the Iroquois Hotel on North Street in Caledonia, was seriously injured in a motorcycle accident, that he realized how much the community meant to him.

  "My two passions are now coming together and because of it, my motivation is extremely high. I wish I could start tomorrow," he said.

   While he doesn’t officially begin as middle school principal until after the winter break, Estabrooks will be at the middle school a few days in December. He will work with Principal Robert Molisani as the transition occurs.

   According to Superintendent David V. Dinolfo, the district received two dozen applications for the principal position; vacant after current Middle School Principal Robert Molisani accepted the high school principal position, replacing retiring Thomas Woodruff. Estabrooks was named a strong candidate over two rounds of interviewing.

   "Paul Estabrooks impressed the committees because he demonstrated the desired skills and qualities the district sought in its next middle school principal. His successful experience at the Canandaigua Middle School prepares him to take on the leadership role of our middle school program. His return to his alma mater gives him an advantage of knowledge of the community and district schools. I believe that Paul Estabrooks will be a good fit for our district," commented Dinolfo.