Happy New Year!

A welcome message from Dr. Colucciello as the 2012-13 school year begins

ALBANY, N.Y. (Sept. 5, 2012) -- As we begin the 2012-13 school year, a warm welcome to those of you are new to us, and an equally warm welcome-back to those of you who are returning. I invite you to take a moment to visit our online Photo Gallery to see pictures from around the district on the first day of school Tuesday, Sept. 4. I visited six of our schools on the first day and was impressed with the level of instruction taking place in every building. Our staff members were well prepared to serve our 8,600 students and their families.

As always at the start of a new year, students will experience back-to-school excitement and jitters as they take on a new set of academic challenges.

My colleagues may be feeling the same way as we face our own new challenges this school year. A new state law requires that, for the first time ever, teachers, principals and administrators be graded on our job performance. The new evaluation process is designed to help educators get better at what they do, just as tests, quizzes and homework are designed to help students get better in a given subject.

Now, more than ever, the success of one is tied to the success of the other, and vice versa. That has always been the case. However, what happens now goes on everyone’s permanent record.

The 2012-13 school year also starts off with several key leadership changes. Since the end of the last school year, six administrators with nearly 200 years of combined experience have retired.

To begin with, we soon will welcome a new superintendent.

Marguerite Vanden Wyngaard, Ph.D., comes to us from Paterson, N.J., with the experience and the vision to lead our district forward. She has exceptional credentials, and I know that she will find an exceptional community ready to embrace the challenges that lie ahead.

We also have several new and highly qualified district leaders stepping up, including Albany High School Interim Principal Cecily Wilson, Albany School of Humanities (ASH) Principal C. Fred Englehardt Jr., Giffen Memorial Elementary School Principal Jasmine Brown and Philip J. Schuyler Achievement Academy Principal Jalinda Soto.

Please welcome all the new leaders with enthusiasm and give them your full support and commitment.

My time with you is almost up. It has been a pleasure to serve you and the entire Albany community over these past three years. We have made progress together on behalf of our students, and I know you are poised to make even greater strides this year and in the years to come.

Best wishes for a happy and successful school year to all of you.

Raymond Colucciello, Ed.D. 

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.