Good afternoon, 

I hope you had a wonderful holiday season, and your New Year is off to a good start. 

I will start my brief today by addressing the news that I am a finalist for the superintendent position in Yonkers.  First, I am sorry that the information was shared in the manner it was and that many of you learned about it via a social media post.  I have prided myself on having ongoing and timely communication with the community and our district regarding topics that would impact our work. With it being a confidential process and nothing being official, I wouldn’t and couldn’t say anything.  Since Yonkers has announced that I am a finalist, I knew it would be essential to take some time to discuss it in this week’s brief. 

Again, I hoped to inform the community once there was an official appointment and again to avoid having the community find out in the manner that it did.  I apologize for any hurt, anxiety, or stress this announcement has caused any of you.    

I don't have any further information to share with you, but I will provide an update if things change or become official.    

As a district, we have taken significant strides forward since my arrival in July 2021 and have many impactful projects and initiatives planned and already in progress.  Please know that regardless of what happens, I am committed to the work we have started and are doing. I will work with the Board of Education and the Executive Leadership Team to ensure those initiatives continue regardless of what happens to me.  I know it's difficult for something like this not to create a disturbance, but I encourage all of you to keep focused on the critical work underway and keep pushing forward.  Schenectady IS rising because of each of YOU.  Never forget that. 

Thank you to those who contacted me upon learning about my candidacy. I sincerely appreciate your well wishes, kind words, and for caring. It means the world to me.   Again, there is no more to share at this time, but I promise to keep you updated as things progress and will have much more to say if and when things become official.  

This month is National Board Appreciation Month. Please join me in expressing appreciation to the amazing women who make a difference in our community serving on the Board of Education. School board members are selfless volunteers who work tirelessly to ensure that all students have the greatest opportunity to learn and be successful. They are important leaders in our community, and I am grateful for all they do. Please join me by saying "thank you" to the seven members of the board of education for their dedication, commitment, and service. #SchoolBoardMonth

Pictured: Erica Brockmyer, Jamaica Miles, Cathy Lewis, me, Bernice Rivera (President), Nohelani Etienne (Vice President), Vivian Parsons, Amanda Sponable-Pantalone

REMINDER

January 15
No School
Martin Luther King Day

January Meal Menus

Congratulations to Schenectady High School teacher Zack Butts for becoming Schenectady's newest National Board Certified Teacher (NBCT). NBC is the most respected professional certification available in education and provides numerous benefits to teachers, students and schools. It was designed to develop, retain, and recognize accomplished teachers and to generate ongoing improvement in schools nationwide. The process of becoming a National Board Certified Teacher is a tremendous accomplishment that requires a commitment of time, energy and dedication to one's profession.

National Board Certification is good for a five-year period, at which point teachers need to re-certify to stay current in their profession.  Congratulations to the following teachers who maintained certification:

• Jennifer Burroughs, Schenectady High School

• Joshua Conway, Schenectady High School

• Kelly Egan, Schenectady High School

• Kathleen Ferguson, Paige Elementary School

• Kimberly Green, Hamilton Elementary School

• Angela Gozalkowski, Woodlawn Elementary School

• Nicole Hannon, Oneida Middle School

• Susanne Sears, Lincoln Elementary School

• Amy Tyler, Mont Pleasant Middle School

Schenectady City School District continues to be among the leaders in New York with over 75 National Board Certified Teachers, the most of any school district in New York outside of New York City and Yonkers.  For more information on National Board Certification in Schenectady, visit the Schenectady Teacher Center website.

Thank you to the Schenectady City School District Educational Foundation which awarded 32 grants worth $67,483 to Schenectady teachers this year. The latest round of grants provides a wide variety of materials and activities such as classroom libraries, a sensory area for special needs students, science labs, literacy program, Girls on the Run, a business competition, art projects and field trips to MiSci, historical sites, museums, and more. Since the foundation began in 2006, it has presented over 400 grants worth more than $500,000. This funding provides support for enrichment projects that might not otherwise be available. Please join me in thanking SCSDEF for the commitment and support to our district.

Pictured: Zack Butts, our latest National Board Certified Teacher