Brian Masopust was named principal of Wallkill Senior High School effective July 1 following the departure of Joseph Salamone.

Salamone accepted a position as principal of the P-TECH: Hudson Valley Pathways Academy at Ulster BOCES.

As principal, Masopust hopes to create a culture of learning, where students think in innovative ways. He will also support the faculty and staff.

“The past year and a half with the COVID-19 pandemic has been really challenging for everyone and I think we have to be mindful of the social and emotional needs of our entire learning community,” Masopust said. “But at the same time, we need to get back to the rigor and the academic expectations that our community values.”

He is a proud alumnus of Wallkill, graduating in 2004. His experiences in high school made him realize that he wanted to pursue a career in education.

After Wallkill, Masopust attended Mount Saint Mary College where he earned a bachelor’s degree in history and education in 2008. Right out of college, he was hired as a seventh and eighth grade history teacher at John G. Borden Middle School before becoming a history teacher at the high school in 2012. He lasted in that position until 2018 and coached basketball, baseball and soccer during that time.

“I loved teaching, it was something I was significantly passionate about and then an opportunity presented itself for me to move into the assistant principal and director of athletics role, which I jumped at the chance at,” Masopust said.

He served in those positions for the last three years before becoming principal. Regardless of the position he has held, he has enjoyed it immensely.

“The thing I like most about education is having the opportunity to work with young people and the faculty,” Masopust said. “Students and faculty at Wallkill are innovative, they’re dedicated and also kind, which is something I think that people overlook especially during challenging times.”

He added that the passion that faculty and students have for the community is contagious, which motivates him to give his all each day.