Danielle Cota Appointed as Assistant Principal of Sutherland High School

Pittsford Schools Board of Education appointed Danielle Cota as Assistant Principal of Sutherland High School at the June 16, 2026, Board of Education Meeting. Her start date is July 6, 2026.

“We are excited to welcome Danielle Cota to the Pittsford Schools leadership team,” said Superintendent Shana Cutaia. “Ms. Cota brings a wealth of experience in instructional leadership, student support, and school culture, along with a strong commitment to fostering academic excellence and belonging for all students. Her background in educational leadership, restorative practices, and collaborative problem-solving will be a tremendous asset to Sutherland High School. We look forward to the positive impact she will have on our students, staff, and school community.”

With over 14 years of experience in education, Cota served as Vice Principal of Cleveland High School in Portland, OR, since 2021 where she was a core member of the executive leadership team for 1,400+ students. In this role, Cota employed data-driven strategies to align curriculum with International Baccalaureate standards and steered disciplinary protocols in accordance with district guidelines to integrate restorative justice practices and manage behavior. 

Cota also served as an Administrative Intern at Jefferson Middle College for Advanced Studies in 2021. She taught 11th Grade Science and served as Head Volleyball Coach at Jefferson Middle College, Portland, OR, from 2018-2021;  taught 9th Grade Science Teacher and was Athletic Director at Lyons Community School, Brooklyn, NY, from 2015- 2018; and taught Living Environment at the Urban Assembly School for Media Studies, New York, NY, from 2014- 2015.

Cota’s holds a Master of Arts in Secondary Education, Biology 7-12 from Hunter College, New York, NY; a Master of Arts in Forensic Mental Health Counseling from John Jay College of Criminal Justice, New York, NY; and a Bachelor of Arts in Biology from University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY. She also has her Initial Administrator License from Portland State University.