Westhampton Beach Names New Athletic Director, Assistant Principal

The Westhampton Beach School District has appointed a new athletic director and an elementary and middle school assistant principal.

Jason Cohen of West Islip has been named the district’s athletic director following the resignation of Kathy Masterson, who held the position for 16 years and accepted the athletic director position in East Hampton earlier this year. He assumes his new role on July 5.

Cohen currently serves as the assistant principal of Islip Middle School, a position he’s held since 2019. Prior to that, he worked in the Islip School District as a physical education teacher, athletic trainer and summer administrator. Earlier in his career, he was an athletic trainer in the South Huntington Union Free School District, an assistant athletic trainer at Molloy College and a student athletic trainer at Hofstra University, where he also earned the school’s Athletic Trainer of the Year award.

“I am thrilled and honored to be joining the Westhampton Beach family as the new director of health, physical education and athletics,” Cohen said. “I find this opportunity so remarkable because Westhampton Beach is a small, tight-knit community — rich in history and tradition — that places strong emphasis on academic and athletic excellence. Being able to work with educators, coaches, staff, parents and students with the unified goal of continued growth and success is very exciting.”

Cohen holds a Bachelor of Science degree in athletic training from Hofstra University, a Master of Arts in physical education from Adelphi University and an advanced graduate certificate in educational leadership from Stony Brook University.

Marykate Hill has also been hired to be the new elementary and middle school assistant principal, effective July 1.

Hill, of Islip Terrace, joins Westhampton Beach from the Baldwin Union Free School District, where she has been an English as a new language and special education teacher at Baldwin Middle School since 2015. She also served as a leadership intern at the building and district levels in Baldwin during the last two years.

“I am beyond excited for my appointment as the district’s new assistant principal,” Hill said. “Great schools are a result of great teachers, and I look forward to collaborating with the administrative team and teachers at both the elementary and middle school. The Westhampton Beach School District is truly a special place to be, and I am so thankful to have the opportunity to be here.”

Hill previously worked as a special education teacher at both Manhattan’s P.S. 048 P.O. Michael J. Buczek and at St. Spyridon Parochial School.

Hill holds a Bachelor of Science degree in education from SUNY Cortland, a Master of Science/TESOL from Touro College and advanced certification in school building and school district leadership from the New York Institute of Technology.

“We are pleased to announce these two new appointments,” Superintendent Dr. Carolyn Probst said. “They both bring a wealth of experience to our district, and we look forward to welcoming them into our Hurricane family.”