The district has named Brian Kroll as the new director of fine and performing arts. Kroll replaces interim director Dr. Jeff Dailey.

Kroll comes to Islip from the Babylon School District, where he had worked since 2000 as Babylon Junior-Senior High School’s director of the junior and senior choir, extracurricular women’s choir, vocal jazz ensemble and chorale, as well as musical director of the all-school musical production and coach of the varsity golf team. During his time in Babylon, he was named an ASSET Bright Light educator in 2010. He served as SCMEA Division III East chorus co-chairperson in 2004 and 2005 and as SCMEA Division II East assistant vice president in 2006, and was chosen to direct the SCMEA Division III East honor choir in 2007.

He previously worked from 1998 to 2000 at the West Islip School District’s Beach Street Middle School, serving as chorus director, general music teacher and Drama Club musical director; and in 1998 at the Comsewogue School District’s John F. Kennedy Middle School as a chorus director and general music teacher.

A Manorville resident, Kroll earned his bachelor’s degree in education from Hofstra University, his master’s degree in music from Five Towns College and his advanced certificate in educational leadership from Stony Brook University.

“Arts education promotes critical thinking and collaboration in order to solve complex problems and to create and appreciate aesthetic works,” Kroll said. “Our goal is to foster art and music education because research shows they are linked to academic achievement, social and emotional development, and community engagement.”