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 ALBANY, N.Y. (July
1, 2009) -- Veteran urban educator David C. McCalla,
Ph.D., began his tenure July 1 as principal at Albany High School,
bringing with him more than 35
years' experience, including 25 in the
Miami-Dade County (Fla.) Public Schools, the nation's
fourth-largest school system.
“I am looking forward to
this great opportunity to lead Albany High School at an exciting time,
and to helping the district shape the future of secondary education for
the entire Albany community,” Dr. McCalla said.
Dr. McCalla (pictured at right) succeeds Maxine Fantroy-Ford, who
has returned
to Giffen Memorial Elementary School for the 2009-10 school year. Dr.
McCalla most recently held
assistant superintendent positions in Mount Vernon, N.Y. You can read
more about Dr. McCalla in
the June 3 Times Union.
“We are extremely
pleased to have the opportunity to bring this high caliber of leadership
to our school district,” said Superintendent Eva C. Joseph, Ed.D.
"Dr. McCalla’s outstanding
experience and his deep understanding of urban school systems will be a
great benefit to Albany High School and our students and families. We
are grateful to the district and community volunteers who played an
important role in choosing Dr. McCalla for this critical position.”
Dr. McCalla was selected
following an extensive search process that included four focus groups in
March to develop the criteria for Albany High’s next principal. A
33-member committee then conducted interviews with prospective
candidates.
Dr. McCalla brings to Albany an extensive background in
urban education, including 25 years in the Miami-Dade County. A science
and math instructor early in his career, Dr. McCalla served as assistant
principal at the middle and high school levels before taking over as
principal of 1,300-student Homestead Middle School in 1993, where he
served until 2000.
He was principal of
1,100-student Golden Gate Middle School in the Collier County (Fla.)
Public Schools for two years before moving to New York state as
principal of Nyack Middle School in 2002. He spent two years in that
position and four as a district-level administrator in the Mount Vernon
City School District, including two as assistant superintendent of
curriculum and instruction and a year as assistant superintendent for
pupil personnel services.
As assistant
superintendent of curriculum and instruction from 2005-07, Dr. McCalla
monitored and implemented all state curriculum standards for Mount
Vernon’s more than 9,000 students. He supervised 10 subject-area
supervisors district-wide and five K-12 principals.
As assistant
superintendent for pupil personnel services during the 2007-08 school
year, he was responsible for that area as well as accountability,
technology and special education. He supervised three district directors
and five secondary principals. Dr. McCalla has served as an educational
consultant for the past year.
At Albany High, he will
lead one of the Capital Region’s largest high schools at a time when the
district is poised to begin planning for significant changes to the
educational program and high school facilities as part of its strategic
plan.
The mission of the City School District of
Albany is to educate and nurture all students to be
responsible citizens, critical thinkers and lifelong learners to
successfully compete in the global community by providing an
academically rigorous and safe environment in partnership with parents,
students and the community. The district
serves approximately 8,400 students in 16
elementary, middle and high schools. In addition to neighborhood
schools, the district includes several magnet schools and programs, as
well as other innovative academic opportunities for students.
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