“The East Ramapo school community is mourning the death of Patricia Simmons, the longtime principal of Fleetwood Elementary School in Chestnut Ridge. Simmons, 63, died Dec. 27 of cancer. She had been principal at Fleetwood Elementary since 2001, earning a reputation as a forceful advocate of students and teachers during a period of widespread cuts and turmoil in the troubled district.Speaking on Sunday, daughter Dara Simmons said her mother had a strong belief that the American public education system should be a “stepping stone.” At Fleetwood, that meant celebrating diversity and pushing academic achievement among its 500 or so students, many from immigrant families.” Complete Journal News story here.