Blue Point Elementary principal Tara Falasco spotlights social-emotional learning and women’s leadership

Tara Falasco, Ed.D., principal of Blue Point Elementary School in the Bayport–Blue Point Union Free School District, is using school leadership, mentorship and research to support students and advance women in education. Her work centers on social-emotional learning, collaborative school culture and a new Long Island leadership conference for elementary principals.

Why it matters: - Tara Falasco’s work reflects how elementary schools are adapting to student anxiety, social challenges and learning gaps shaped by the pandemic era. - Her leadership also points to a broader push to expand women’s advancement in educational administration through mentorship and sponsorship. - Falasco’s role in professional organizations and research gives her influence beyond Blue Point Elementary School.

What happened: - Tara Falasco, Ed.D., serves as principal of Blue Point Elementary School in the Bayport–Blue Point Union Free School District. - Falasco has spent more than 20 years in education and has led Blue Point Elementary School for the past eight years. - She is a Nationally Certified Principal Mentor, serves on the National Association of Elementary School Principals Editorial Advisory Board and is president of the Suffolk County Elementary Principals Association. - Her profile was published by Influential Women on June 17, 2026.

The details: - Falasco started her career as a fourth- and fifth-grade teacher and spent 11 years in the classroom. - She then worked as an assistant principal for more than two years before becoming principal. - Her leadership style emphasizes visibility, accessibility and collaboration. - Falasco spends time in classrooms and across the school community to support students, staff, instructional work and social-emotional development. - She encourages teachers and staff to discuss instructional practices, behavioral supports and continuous improvement. - Falasco’s focus includes helping students navigate higher levels of anxiety, emotional dysregulation and social challenges. - She says children who spent critical developmental years in remote learning and disrupted routines need more intentional support for social skills and emotional competencies. - Falasco also points to younger access to cell phones and social media, along with changing parenting dynamics, as part of a more complex school environment. - Her research on student anxiety and the changing needs of K–12 learners has been published in Principal magazine. - She has presented at conferences and contributed to educational publications. - Falasco is leading the development of Long Island’s first elementary leadership conference through the Suffolk County Elementary Principals Association. - She is a doctoral candidate at Bethel University and is preparing to defend dissertation research on women in educational leadership. - Her research found that sponsorship may matter even more than mentorship for women advancing into leadership roles. - Sponsorship includes active advocacy, such as recommending people for opportunities and amplifying accomplishments. - Falasco credits mentors, colleagues, her school community and her mother for helping shape her career. - Her leadership philosophy centers on trust, balance and authenticity. - She says sustainable success requires attention to both professional fulfillment and personal relationships.

Between the lines: - Falasco’s emphasis on sponsorship suggests that informal advocacy can be as important as training when women move into leadership roles. - Her work also shows how principals are being asked to do more than manage schools; they are increasingly expected to support student wellness, staff development and community culture at the same time. - The mix of mentorship, research and association leadership positions Falasco as both a practitioner and a voice in broader education debates.

What's next: - Falasco is expected to defend her dissertation at Bethel University. - The Suffolk County Elementary Principals Association will move ahead with planning Long Island’s first elementary leadership conference. - Falasco will continue to lead Blue Point Elementary School while mentoring other administrators and contributing to national education conversations.

The bottom line: - Tara Falasco’s profile shows a principal using day-to-day school leadership, research and professional advocacy to push for stronger student support and more pathways for women in education.