HYDE PARK, N.Y. - Daily Voice sat down recently with Franklin D. Roosevelt High School's Rick Pardy as part of our ongoing spotlight series on area high school principals.
Being a Dutchess County native, Rick Pardy jumped at the chance to become principal at FDR High School when the opportunity arose three years ago.Pardy grew up in Fishkill, attending John Jay High where he played football and ran track, earning All-League and All-Section honors.
Pardy continued to excel at football at Ithaca College, where he was named All-American, and was part of the school's national-championship winning team in 1979. Pardy's team team returned to the National Championship game in 1980 as well, but lost to the University of Dayton.
He served as Assistant Principal at Poughkeepsie High for 14 years prior to coming to FDR. Pardy was also was the youngest college football Head Coach in the nation, leading the Marist football team as a 27-year-old, and also coached college football at SUNY Albany.
Pardy has a wife, Amy, of 32 years, and two children, Alex and Kary.
Watch the video to hear Pardy's take on what he finds special about FDR High School, educational programs at the school, what he loves about his job, and more.
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