Newell to lead TOAST

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Thomas O’Brien Academy of Science and Technology has a new principal!

On Wednesday, the City School District of Albany announced the appointment of veteran administrator Sophia Newell, effective July 1. She replaces Teresa Brown, who is retiring at the end of the school year.

Newell joined the district in 2003 as a substitute social studies teacher at the former Philip Livingston Magnet Academy. The following year she was hired at Albany High School as a regular social studies teacher. She was promoted to the administrative level in 2007 and has served in a variety of roles, including assistant house principal at Albany High, house principal of Albany High’s Abrookin Career and Technical Center, and principal of the former Alternative Learning Center, now the Tony Clement Center for Education.

Newell has served as an administrator on special assignment at Edmund J. O’Neal Middle School of Excellence for the last two years.

Newell earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University at Albany.