Henry J. Stopinski, Ed.D., Williamsville North High School, Class of 1980

Dr. Henry Stopinski is Superintendent for the Royalton-Hartland Central School District located in Middleport, NY. He was named superintendent of schools in 2018. Prior to his appointment, Dr. Stopinski was head of schools at Health Sciences Charter High School in Buffalo for eight years, responsible for all aspects of governance, budget, capital projects, and curriculum development. 

After graduating from Williamsville North, Dr. Stopinski earned an associate’s degree in Forest Technology from the SUNY College of Environmental Sciences and Forestry. He continued his education at Castleton State College in Vermont, earning a bachelor’s degree in secondary education/natural science and a master’s degree in educational administration and leadership. He received his doctorate degree in from NOVA Southeastern University in Ft. Lauderdale, FL. 

His career in education began as a secondary science teacher in Granville, NY. He soon moved to Vermont and taught agricultural education at River Valley Technical Center in Springfield, VT for seven years before being named the center’s principal, serving in that leadership role for eight years. During his time in Springfield, he was named the National Outstanding Young Teacher of Agriculture in 1991; the Vermont Vocational Principal/Director of the Year in 1999; and served as an adjunct professor at Vermont Technical College for six years. In 2003, he was appointed Director of Career and Technical Education (CTE) at Capital Region BOCES in Albany and served in that post for seven years before moving back to Western New York. 

For much of his life, Dr. Stopinski has been active in the Boy Scouts, earning the rank of Eagle Scout and as an Order of the Arrow Vigil Member, one of scouting’s highest marks of distinction. He continues to serve as a Boy Scout leader and recently received the Greater Niagara BSA Scouter of the Year, Award of Merit. He has served as a wilderness guide, middle school camp director, track and field coach, basketball coach, and as a volunteer for the Special Olympics. He and his wife, Carol, have two sons, Jason and Peter who, like their father, are proud graduates of Williamsville North.