When our [school] family got word last summer that our principal was being replaced, we all felt a sense of loss and apprehension. Now eight months later that feeling has changed dramatically.
Northside Elementary School has been fortunate over this year to have Mr. Frank Mortillaro as our interim principal. A product of Levittown education, he has served our community and our school in a manner that would make any parent, community member or taxpayer proud.
Our children are greeted by name and assisted out of their parents’ car at morning drop-off with a smile by Mr. Mortillaro. He has been spotted after school playing an impromptu game of football with the children. He is in their classrooms with regularity, making his presence and availability known to the students.
Similarly Mr. Mortillaro makes himself available to the parents, always asking, “How’s everything…is there anything you need…is there anything I can do for you?” He participates in every event, activity and function with an enthusiasm and energy that can only be described as “pleasantly contagious”.
When the fifth-graders were on their annual overnight trip to Greenkill in March, Mr. Mortillaro surprised the children one day by making the long trip there to check up on them; and perhaps let them know that even though they were away from the school building, he was still there for them.
Although we are approaching the end of our year with Mr. Mortillaro, we do not want the imprint he has made on our community to go unnoticed. As interim principal we were prepared (now more like ill-prepared) for the possibility that we would have to say goodbye. We would like to do so by acknowledging Mr. Mortillaro’s contribution to our school, our community, and our children. This brief letter does not speak to the vast majority of what he has done for Northside Elementary School, but I hope this quote coveys the greater sentiment:
A hundred years from now, it will not matter what kind of car I drove, what kind of house I lived in, how much money I had in the bank…but the world may be a better place because I made a difference in the life of a child. — Forest Witcraft
We thank you Mr. Mortillaro and wish you every success in all of your future endeavors! You will be missed!
Marie Reid
Levittown
