The City School District of Albany is pleased to welcome two new district-wide leaders as we prepare for the new school year.
The Board of Education has appointed Wayne Carter as the district’s new director of facilities, and Freya Mercer, Ed.D., as the new secondary instructional supervisor for ELA, reading and library media.
Wayne Carter comes to Albany after seven years as director of facilities at Washington-Saratoga-Warren-Hamilton-Essex (WSWHE) BOCES. In that role, his duties included overseeing maintenance, facility repairs and capital projects for 31 districts in the five-county service area.
Prior to that, Carter worked from 2005-18 as senior administrator coordinator for the former Ayco Co. in Saratoga Springs (now Goldman Sachs Ayco).
He holds an associate’s degree from Mohawk Valley Community College and formerly served as a heavy equipment operator in the U.S. Marine Corps, earning multiple decorations. Carter replaces Ken Keefer, who retired earlier this year.
Dr. Freya Mercer joins the district after serving as the assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction in the Catskill Central School District. Prior to that, she served as a building principal from 2018-24 in the Coxsackie-Athens Central School District.
She also spent five years as a curriculum director in the Saratoga Springs City School District. Dr. Mercer started her teaching career at Central Square Central School District, a large district north of Syracuse. She is a graduate of Wells College, SUNY Cortland and Russell Sage College.
“I am very happy to be joining the City School District of Albany,” Dr. Mercer said. “I have been watching the progressive and positive changes being made since moving to Albany in 2020 and look forward to being part of the continued growth!”
Dr. Mercer replaces Jennifer Houlihan, who was appointed earlier this year as the district’s assistant superintendent for curriculum, instruction and professional development following Karen Bechdol’s retirement.
An Albany resident, Dr. Mercer also is the parent of two district students.