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City School District of Albany Celebrates New Principals & Administrators

ALBANY, NY (September 2005)--The City School District of Albany has appointed two new principals and three administrators to key positions. New staff were celebrated at the September 22 Board of Education meeting, along with newly tenured teachers.

Mr. Kenneth W. Newman, Sr. has been appointed to lead William S. Hackett Middle School. Mr. Newman comes to Albany from Schenectady City School District where he served as Assistant Principal at the middle- and high-school levels for more than five years. Prior to that, he taught Business Education.

Ms. Vibetta Sanders will become principal of Public School 16, temporarily housed in the former Philip Schuyler Elementary School, 141 Western Avenue. Ms. Sanders will assume her new role with the district on October 19. Ms. Sanders spent last year at the New York City Leadership Academy, LIC. Prior to that experience, she worked as a social worker and in an administrative capacity.

Mr. Joseph P. Dragone has been named Assistant Superintendent for Secondary Education. He will work closely with Superintendent Eva Joseph to set district policy and procedures. Prior to coming to Albany, Mr. Dragone served as Principal at Cohoes Middle School for three years. He was an Associate Principal at the Clayton A. Bouton Junior/Senior High School in Voorheesville prior to taking the position in Cohoes.

Ms. Kathleen A. Wetmore has been named the Assistant Superintendent for Business Affairs, replacing Mr. Roger George who retired at the end of the 2004-2005 school year. Before coming to the Albany Public Schools, Ms. Wetmore served as the Finance Director for the City of Schenectady. Prior to that, she held the position of Treasurer/Chief Accounting Officer for the Capital Region BOCES.

Mr. J.W. Gayle is the new Director of Food Services. He replaces Mr. Tom Cook who resigned last school year. Mr. Gayle has more than 20 years of experience in the food service industry. Prior to coming to Albany, he was the Director of the School Lunch Program in the Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake Central School District.

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The City School District of Albany serves almost 9,400 students in 19 elementary, middle and high schools. The district includes several magnet schools and programs, as well as other innovative academic opportunities for students in addition to neighborhood schools. The district is more than halfway through its comprehensive facilities project to newly build and/or renovate nearly all of its elementary and middle schools. The ultimate goal of the facilities project is to provide schools with the resources necessary to help students succeed in the 21st Century.