Riverside Institute of Technology (formerly known as Riverside High School) is a public high school located in Buffalo, New York. It serves Grades 10-12 and teaches according to the Board of Regents. The current Principal is Mrs. Ella Dunne, and the current assistant principals are Mr. Martin Bucnowski and Mr. Patrick Doyle.
Riverside High School began construction in the late in 1920's and was completed in time for the 1930 school year. In 1999, the name of the school was changed to "Riverside Institute of Technology" and was renovated from 2008-2010. The new renovations included updated classrooms and improvements to the auditorium, as well as a new weight room and football field. While the school was being renovated, 9th and 10th graders were temporarily housed at School 51 in nearby Black Rock, while 11th and 12th graders remained in the Riverside building.
Previous assignment and reason for departure denoted in parentheses
Dr. Charles W. Whitney–1930-1944 (Assistant Principal - Hutchinson Central High School, retired)
Mr. Raymond W. Spear–1944-1957 (Acting Principal - Bennett High School, retired)
Mr. Carl S. Walz–1957-1971 (Assistant Principal - Riverside High School, retired)
Mr. Michael J. Anelli–1971-1980 (Assistant Principal - East High School, named Principal of City Honors School)
Mrs. Doris H. Erickson–1980-1985 (Assistant Principal - Southside Junior High School, named Principal of South Park Prep)
Mr. Nicholas F. DiPirro–1985-1987 (Assistant Principal - Seneca Vocational High School, named Assistant Principal of Hutchinson Central Technical High School)
Mr. John J. Vella–1987-2004 (Assistant Principal - Bennett High School, retired)
Mr. Michael J. Mogavero–2004-2010 (Principal - Buffalo Traditional School, named Director of Athletics for Buffalo Public Schools)
Mrs. Denise E. Clarke–2010-2015 (Assistant Principal - Riverside Institute of Technology, named Principal of Lafayette High School)
Previous assignment and reason for departure denoted in parentheses
Mr. Raymond Spear–1930-1942 (Science teacher - Bennett High School, named Assistant Principal of Bennett High School)
Mr. Lloyd A. Miller–1942-1946 (Guidance Counselor - Riverside High School, returned to teaching)
Dr. Irwin H. Himmele–1946-1948 (Vice Principal - Lafayette High School, named Assistant Superintendent for Buffalo City Schools)
Mr. Lloyd Miller–1948-1952 (Guidance Counselor - Riverside High School, named Vice Principal of East High School)
Mr. Robert C. McGowan–1952-1956 (Guidance Counselor - Lafayette High School, named Vice Principal of East High School)
Mr. Carl Walz–1956-1957 (Assistant Principal - Bennett High School, named Principal of Riverside High School)
Dr. A. Benjamin Ravine–1957-1969 (Vice Principal - School 72, took medical leave)
Ms. Suzanne M. Kestner–1963-1966 (Social Studies teacher - Grover Cleveland High School, named Director of Social Studies for Buffalo Public Schools)
Mr. Franklin R. Weitz–1966-1967 (Science teacher - South Park High School, named Assistant Principal of Bennett High School)
Mr. Michael Anelli–1967-1970 (Social studies teacher - Riverside High School, named Assistant Principal of East High School)
Mr. James A. Farley–1969-? (Social Studies teacher - Seneca Vocational High School, named Assistant Principal of City Honors School)
Mr. Summer Nunley [interim]–1970-1971 (Science teacher - Riverside High School, returned to teaching)
Mr. Charles L. Sodaro–1971-1979 (Assistant Principal - Kensington High School, named Assistant Principal of Grover Cleveland High School)
Mr. John R. Robinson–1973-1974 (Science teacher - Clinton Junior High School, named Assistant Principal of Bennett High School)
Mr. William F. Blomberg, Jr.–1979-1982 (Assistant Principal - Kensington High School, retired)
Mr. Alfred H. Rasp–1982-1985 (Assistant Principal - Kensington High School, named Assistant Principal of Burgard Vocational High School)
Mr. Harry E. Adams–1981-1987
Mr. Gary R. Lopez–1985-1995 (Assistant Principal - Kensington High School, returned to Kensington)
Mrs. Mary Agnes Scanlon [interim]–1985-1986 (Administrative Assistant - Riverside High School, returned to position)
Mrs. Susan M. Doyle–1990-1994 (Special Education coordinator - Buffalo Traditional School, named Principal of Buffalo Traditional)
Mr. Thomas F. Vitale–1994-1999 (Educational Diagnostician - Buffalo Public Schools, named Principal of P.S. 42 Occupational Training Center)
Mr. Gary R. Lopez–1999-2010 (Assistant Principal - Kensington High School, retired)
Ms. Carol A. Wilson–?-2007 (Business teacher - Riverside High School, retired)
Ms. Louise A. Klier–2007-2009 (Assistant Principal - International School 45, named Assistant Principal of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Multicultural Institute)
Mrs. Denise Clarke–2009-2010 (Assistant Principal - Lafayette High School, named Interim Principal of Riverside Institute of Technology)
Mrs. Lauren M. Samulski-Peters–2010-2014 (Academic Intervention teacher - Riverside Institute of Technology, named Instructional Specialist at Buffalo Public Schools)
Mrs. Aarin J. Pelliteri–2010-2015 (Assistant Principal - Math, Science, Technology Preparatory School, named Assistant Principal of Emerson School of Hospitality)
Mr. Jason B. Madden–2011-2015 (English teacher - Buffalo Academy of Science, named Assistant Principal of Burgard Vocational High School)
Mr. David B. Thomas, Jr.–2014-2015 (Dean of Students - School 115, named Assistant Principal of North Park Middle Academy)
* denotes interim appointment
Joe Ehrmann–Former defensive tackle for the Baltimore Colts
Cliff Robinson–Retired NBA player, notably played for the Portland Trailblazers
Mike Williams–Wide receiver for the Buffalo Bills in the National Football League
Riverside has three small learning communities within its school: The Academy of Entrepreneurship, the Academy of Finance, and the Academy of Health Sciences. Students earn internships, college credit, and job shadowing through these academies. If successful, they graduate with both a Regents Diploma and a CTE endorsement in their academy from Buffalo Public Schools. Riverside also has multiple community partners, including Medaille College, HSBC, Kaleida Health, and the National Academy Foundation.
In 1990, Riverside was named a School of Excellence by New York State for its high test scores and attendance. It held this distinction for a number of years, but was placed on New York State's list of Persistently Lowest Achieving schools in 2010 due to poor test results and graduation rates. This resulted in a number of changes at Riverside, including a new administration and grant funding from New York State.
