Huron Schools administrator accepts new job

PORT CLINTON — Huron High School's second in command will lead an area middle school this fall. Dennis Antonelli is expected to become Port Clinton Middle School's new principal, pending board approval at this month's board meeting. Since 2018, Antonelli, a 1997 Huron graduate, has been the assistant principal and secondary academic coordinator at Huron High School. Before that, he was the principal at St. Mary Central Catholic High School, beginning in 2014. Antonelli has more than 15 years of experience as a teacher, starting out as a math teacher in Broward County, Florida, and in the Cleveland area. At the local level, he's served on the executive council of the Sandusky Bay Conference and is involved with Firelands Positive People, a nonprofit that, since 1994, has recognized high school seniors attending schools in Erie, Ottawa and Huron counties who have persevered through hardships during their high school years. Antonelli takes over for Carrie Sanchez, who will become North Point Educational Service Center's director of teaching and learning. In this role, she will oversee the professional development for 27 school districts in north-central Ohio. "I have witnessed the great work Port Clinton has completed in recent years from outside the district and when this opportunity became available, I knew I wanted to be a part of it," Antonelli said. "There are excellent leaders, teachers and families in Port Clinton Schools and I am eager to work with them building upon the momentum that has been started here. This is a great place to be." Getting Antonelli on Port Clinton's administrative team is significant, Port Clinton Schools superintendent Pat Adkins said. "Denny was selected over 25 other applicants for the position," Adkins said. "Denny has great administrative experience from two districts and comes highly recommended from those who have worked with him. We are excited to have Denny joining our team and think he will do an excellent job continuing the excellence that is Port Clinton Middle School." In recent years, Port Clinton Middle School has gained national recognition for its student-centered school day schedule by being named a National Forum School to Watch in 2015 and 2019 and a National Model School in 2017. - Appreciate news from your community? Click here to subscribe to the Register.