SOUTH DAYTON — John Sheffield, principal of Pine Valley Jr./Sr. High School, will be the new Head of School at the Charter School of Inquiry (CSI) in Buffalo, starting July 1.

Sheffield, a Dunkirk native and a current resident of the town of Villenova, was the Founding Director and Principal of the Elmwood Village Charter School in Buffalo for 10 years. During that time, he helped turn Elmwood Village into one of Buffalo’s highest performing schools, “in part by understanding that all student needs — academic, social, emotional and physical — are important,” said CSI Founder and Chairwoman, Helene Kramer.

About the appointment, Sheffield said, “I am honored to have been named the new Head of School for CSI. I have been informally affiliated with CSI for the past four years, and I am thrilled to officially become the educational leader of this emerging school. I will, however, miss Pine Valley and the support that I received from the community.

Sheffield was also principal at Our Lady of the Sacred Heart and South Buffalo Charter School.

CSI is a K-6 school where children learn while exploring their environment and conducting research.