ABOUT US

About our School

James I. O'Neill High School, built in 1971 is located in the heart of the scenic Hudson River Valley. It serves 500 students in grades 9-12 who come from Highland Falls, Fort Montgomery, Garrison, and West Point. The Highland Falls School District - nestled along the banks of the Hudson River - is adjacent to the United States Military Academy at West Point and 50 miles from New York City.

Despite its small geographic size, the district boasts an outstanding academic record which is credit to the dedicated and talented staff and teachers, along with support from the community and the military academy. These strong partnerships allow O'Neill graduates to seek admission to the nation's most prestigious universities and technology fields.

The commitment to academic excellence extends beyond the school day. Teachers stay after school Tuesday thru Friday for half an hour to work one-on-one with students. Sports and other programs don't start until after the half hour session, so this extra support is available to all students.

About our Principal

Michael Curtin, Ed.D. has been an educator for over 30 years.  He started his career in 1992 as an English teacher at Fordham Preparatory School in the Bronx, NY and subsequently became the school’s first Director of Technology.  

In 2006, he moved on to Edgemont School District where served in several roles over the course of 16 years, ranging from Instructional Technology Coordinator to Assistant Principal and Director of Curriculum.  Following that, he worked as Assistant Superintendent in Blind Brook UFSD for four years.

Now, in 2026, he is excited to take on the principalship at James I. O’Neill High School in the Highland Falls/Fort Montgomery School District.  His professional interests include designing teacher professional learning, building engaging, relevant curriculum and learning experiences for students, and fostering a rich and supportive school culture through collaboration and reflection.  

Dr. Curtin holds Master’s degrees from Fordham University in English Language and Literature, Curriculum and Teaching, and Educational Leadership.  In 2021, he was awarded a Doctorate from Fordham in Educational Leadership.

About our Assistant Principal

Lindsay Berry is honored to step into the role of Assistant Principal at James I. O’Neill High School.  While this role in new, Mrs. Berry has been a part of O’Neill since 2008.  Following a career start in New Jersey, Mrs. Berry joined the O’Neill staff in 2008 as a Health and Physical Education teacher.  In addition to her time in the classroom and gym, Mrs. Berry has held a variety of roles, including coaching volleyball, softball and cheerleading,  serving as the Sophomore Class Advisor, Safe School Ambassador Advisor, and Mrs. Berry has been a part of several committees throughout the district.

As an educator who fully believes in being a lifelong learner, Mrs. Berry holds a Bachelor’s degree in Health and Physical Education from William Paterson University, a Master’s in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Scranton, a Master’s in Health Education from East Carolina University, and a Certificate of Advanced Study in Educational Leadership from SUNY New Paltz.

As she begins this next chapter, Mrs. Berry’s goal as the Assistant Principal is to ensure students at O’Neill feel safe, seen and supported.  Her educational approach has centered on helping students also become lifelong learners who can take ownership of their choices and their success.  Mrs. Berry looks forward to collaborating with O’Neill families to help students actively drive their own academic and personal success.