Submitted Photo Wendy Luce, the Dean of Students at Gowanda, has been named the district’s new Assistant Principal.

GOWANDA — There is now officially an answer to who will fill some of the biggest shoes left open at the Gowanda Central School District next year.

The Gowanda Central School District Board of Education has officially appointed Wendy Luce as the new Assistant Principal for Grades 5-12. Luce transitions into the position from her current role as the district’s Dean of Students, where she has established a strong track record of leadership, student support, and community engagement.

“I am incredibly honored to step into this new role and continue serving the Gowanda community,” said Luce. “Working alongside our dedicated staff and families as Dean of Students has shown me how resilient and vibrant our school community truly is. I look forward to supporting our students in all their academic and personal pursuits, ensuring every Panther has the resources and support they need to succeed.”

Luce is professionally certified as a School Social Worker and has a state license as a Clinical Social Worker. Her appointment takes effect July 1 and carries a four-year probationary period. Luce will receive a salary of $90,000 for the 2026-27 school year.

“Ms. Luce has served our district with distinction as Dean of Students, consistently

demonstrating the qualities of an excellent school leader,” said Superintendent Dr. Robert Anderson. “She is deeply student-centered, works tirelessly to build strong

relationships, and is highly supportive of teaching and learning in every classroom. Wendy will be outstanding in her new role, and I look forward to her continued leadership and the positive impact she will have on our students, staff, and school

community.”

Luce’s background as Dean of Students provides a seamless transition for the

upcoming academic year, ensuring continuity in the administration’s student-advocacy initiatives and building-level operations.

As Assistant Principal, Luce will expand her focus to oversee student progress, support instructional staff, and foster a positive school climate across the district’s middle and high school grade levels.

Luce replaces longtime administrator Dave Smith, who is set to retire after this school year comes to a close. Smith was recently selected as Assistant Principal of the Year by the School Administrators’ Association of New York State. He served as an administrator at Gowanda for the past 23 years, and during a portion of that tenure, he also served as the village’s mayor.