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Board appoints New Jersey educator as superintendent
Dr. Marguerite Vanden Wyngaard is the first
African-American woman
to serve as Albany's permanent district leader
 ALBANY, N.Y. (Sept.
12, 2012) -- Emphasizing the
experience, energy and enthusiasm of its next school leader, the City
School District of Albany Board of Education appointed Marguerite Vanden
Wyngaard, Ph.D., as its new superintendent Sept. 12.
The
board voted unanimously to approve Dr. Vanden Wyngaard during a special
meeting at William S. Hackett Middle School attended by about 150
community members, district staff and students. She received a
three-year contract with an annual salary of $190,000. Dr. Vanden
Wyngaard (pictured at right being introduced to the community by
board President Dan Egan) already has relocated to Albany from
Paterson, N.J., where she was deputy superintendent of that city’s
28,000-student school district. She also is among the new parents in
Albany’s 8,600-student public-school system.
“Dr. Vanden Wyngaard understands the strengths and
challenges of an urban school district like ours,” Egan said. “She
shares our sense of urgency for raising achievement for all of our
students. She is committed to advancing academic excellence and high
expectations for all of our students.
"We are excited to welcome her as our new
superintendent and believe she will be an exceptional leader for our
school district and our community.”
Dr. Vanden Wyngaard had been
second-in-command of the Paterson Public Schools since 2010, responsible
for day-to-day operations of all facets of the school district. She has
been a senior administrator for eight years and holds a doctorate in
curriculum and instruction from Kent State University.
Dr. Vanden Wyngaard is the first
African-American woman to serve as Albany’s permanent school
superintendent. Eleanor Powell Bartlett served as interim superintendent
during the 1996-97 school year.
“I am truly humbled and honored to
serve your families as superintendent of the City School District of
Albany,” Dr. Vanden Wyngaard told staff and community members during her
appointment, which was followed by a community reception.
“I appreciate the diligent and
hard work that all district staff continues to provide on behalf of our
students,” she said. “At the same time, I know we have more work that
must be done.
“To achieve that,
each and every one of us must understand the critical role we play in
helping all of our students succeed.
My belief is that through open and respectful
dialogue founded on trust, conflict negotiations based on mutual respect
and a system of accountability that begins with and includes me, we will
work together to build on the strengths of the Albany education team.
Our goal, in partnership with our community, is to support the
development of a high-performing learning organization focused on
meeting the needs of our diverse student population.”
Click here to
read Dr. Vanden Wyngaard's full remarks in her first official duty as
superintendent.
The board selected Dr. Vanden Wyngaard
from an original candidate pool of 27 candidates after a national search
in March and April. The board narrowed the field to 10 candidates for
initial interviews in May, and then to six semifinalists for meetings
with three teams of community members in June.
Following the input of the community
groups, the board selected Dr. Vanden Wyngaard as one of three
finalists. The board conducted final interviews with those candidates
July 12-14 and selected Dr. Vanden Wyngaard as its choice July 24.
At that time, Dr. Vanden Wyngaard was
certified as a superintendent in New Jersey, Minnesota and Wisconsin.
Because she was not previously certified as a superintendent in New
York, the board asked the State Education Department to grant her a
School District Leader certificate based on her credentials and
experience. Education Commissioner John B. King Jr., Ed.D., granted that
certification Aug. 17, finding that Dr. Vanden Wyngaard “has exceptional
training and experience that … qualify her for the duties of a
superintendent of schools” in New York state.
Dr. Vanden Wyngaard officially starts
her new job Monday, Sept. 24.
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 about 8,600
students in 15
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,
including four themed academies at Albany High
School.
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