It’s been a busy summer renovating the former Silas Wood Sixth Grade Center to become South Huntington’s new dedicated Pre-K Center for the new school year. Leading the effort is a familiar face to the community, Ms. Renee Schumm, the district’s very first Silas Wood Pre-K Center principal. With more than a decade of dedication to South Huntington as both a teacher and assistant principal, Ms. Schumm is stepping into her latest role with immense excitement and deep-rooted passion for early childhood education.

Ms. Schumm first joined the South Huntington School District in 2013. From 2013 until 2023, she taught both fourth and fifth grades at Maplewood as both an inclusion teacher and a general education teacher. In 2023, she was appointed Assistant Principal at Birchwood Intermediate School. Before that, she worked as a teacher in both the Northport-East Northport and Elmont School Districts. She has a Master’s Degree in Early Childhood Education from LIU Post and Advanced Certification in Educational Leadership from SUNY Stony Brook.

The new Silas Wood Pre-K Center opens to students on September 1st, providing increased access to a publicly funded pre-kindergarten education for children of all families in our district and ending the need for a lottery system due to limited class space. The Silas Wood building opened in 1952 and was originally a K-5 elementary school. 

We spoke with Ms. Schumm about her new role as Pre-K principal. Answers have been lightly edited for length and clarity.

Q&A

You are going to be the very first principal of the Silas Wood Pre-K Center! Many principals never have the opportunity to open up a brand new school building.
Ms. Schumm:  “It’s a complete honor and privilege to have this opportunity, personally for myself and to be there for the families. I live in the community, so it is very special to me. Being able to be at the ground level for students' education is just exciting. I have Pre-K experience. I started my career teaching preschool, which makes everything come full circle. Going back to that is very exciting. My master’s degree is in early childhood education, so I always gravitate toward the little kids. When this opportunity presented itself, it sparked something inside me. I knew if there was ever a time to make the jump to be a building leader, this was a great opportunity.”  

Did you always want to be a teacher?
Ms. Schumm:  “It was the only job I ever wanted to do. I never veered away from that. My parents will tell you that from the age of three, playing school was my favorite game. My grandparents had a chalkboard in their basement where I constantly wanted to play. My friends will tell you I always had to be the teacher and leader of whatever was going on. I was always around younger cousins, my younger brother, and younger kids. I babysat from a young age, worked as a camp counselor during high school and college, and then went straight into education and never looked back. When you realize you are helping children, encouraging them, and inspiring them to be the best version of themselves at any level, there is nothing better than that.”  

What are your plans for the new Pre-K Center?  
Ms. Schumm:  “So many plans! Seeing the building’s transformation from a sixth-grade center into a welcoming environment for our youngest students is exciting. We want it to be an enriching, welcoming space with words from different cultures so everyone feels included, ensuring kids have everything they need. This is where the Wildcat journey begins.”  

How important is Pre-K education in a child's overall academic journey?  
Ms. Schumm:  “It is the foundation. You see a huge difference in children who have a schooling experience at four years old compared to those entering kindergarten who have never been in a school building. It helps them get acclimated to a school environment and comfortable spending time away from family. Beyond early academics like letters and numbers, the social-emotional growth at age four is critical. It builds trust early on and gives them a jump start on their educational journey.” 

You’ve lived in the district for more than 25 years. What do you love about South Huntington?
Ms. Schumm:  “Family. This district really feels like a family across every building. The community involvement and support for weekend and evening events are incredible. Everyone comes together to support the kids, and seeing former students grow up and return to volunteer or go into teaching is wonderful. I love the diversity of the district. It’s a real example of the real world. We come together to embrace it, and that is what makes this district so special. Everyone comes in as a unique individual and brings so much for us to learn from one another, starting as early as Pre-K.”

What would you like to say to the families of the incoming Pre-K students?  
Ms. Schumm:  “I’m so honored and excited to be a part of their children's journey. I look forward to meeting everyone and working together side-by-side. And I thank the district for this opportunity. I really appreciate their trust and will work hard to make this the most amazing Pre-K Center possible.”