The City School District of Albany didn’t have to look far when hiring the next principal for Arbor Hill Elementary School. The Board of Education promoted Assistant Principal Janet Escoto-La Voie to the position at its meeting Thursday night.
Escoto-La Voie has served as Arbor Hill’s assistant principal since 2017. Prior to joining the administrative team at Arbor Hill, she started in the district in 2006 as a Spanish teacher in Albany High School's Abrookin Extended Day Program, then moved to Albany High and the former West Hill Middle School.
Her administrative track began in 2011, also at Albany High and West Hill. She holds bachelor's and master's degrees in animal science from SUNY Cobleskill and Cornell University, respectively, as well as a master's in secondary education-Spanish from the former College of Saint Rose, where she also received a Certificate of Advanced Study in Education Administration.
Escoto-La Voie replaces Arbor Hill's longtime former principal, Rosalind Gaines-Harrell, who became the district’s first director of recruitment, development and retention in March.
"Arbor Hill Elementary School is already a place of strength, commitment and heart," Escoto-La Voie said. "My role as principal is to build on that success by working alongside our incredible faculty and staff as one team.
"Together, we will continue to center every decision on what is best for our students and ensure equity, opportunity and high expectations for all. I believe the strongest schools are led collaboratively, where every voice matters, every perspective is valued and our collective work drives student success."
- Favorite subject in school: Science
- Favorite children’s book: Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes and Charlotte's Web
- Favorite food: Spanish (arroz con pollo)!
- Favorite school lunch: Pizza
Also at Thursday's meeting, the board appointed Tom Verret to join Escoto-La Voie on Arbor Hill's administrative team as the new assistant principal. Currently an administrator in The Greater Amsterdam School District, Verret will start at Arbor Hill on June 1.