West Hempstead High School's new principal was 'easy choice'

Almost any time anyone encounters Daniel Rehman, by all accounts, he has a smile on his face. Maybe working with kindergartners does that to an educator, but West Hempstead school district administrators are no doubt hoping that smile remains as familiar as Rehman moves into the next phase of his career: working with high school students.

After spending the last two years as principal of the Chestnut Street School, Rehman, 43, was chosen to replace Frank Viteritti as principal of West Hempstead High School, administrators announced at an Aug. 16 Board of Education meeting. Viteritti left his position unexpectedly at the end of June. While the district offered no details on his departure, schools Superintendent John Hogan was clearly enthusiastic about Viteritti’s replacement.

“We’re very excited about the appointment of Mr. Rehman,” Hogan told the Herald. “He is committed to the district. He has an enthusiasm for teaching and for lifelong learning that is second to none. He was an easy choice for the search committee.”

Hogan went on to say that Rehman did an outstanding job at the Chestnut kindergarten center, moving the children along in literacy and early mathematics. Hogan happily noted that the community has been receptive to Rehman’s appointment — something that must come as a relief in a district that has gone through four high school principals in four years.

“I’m usually a pretty calm guy, but this one I’m excited about,” Hogan said of Rehman. “He’s a good guy and a strong educator, and we really think he’s going to be very successful.”

Some West Hempstead residents got a brief demonstration of Rehman’s good-guy disposition at the board meeting, when he took off his suit jacket and draped it over the shoulders of District Clerk Kathie Girolamo, who was shivering in the air-conditioning.