Donald Brandt. Photo provided.

BALLSTON SPA — The Ballston Spa Central School District has selected Donald Brandt as its new Gordon Creek Elementary School Principal. Brandt was appointed by the Board of Education at the June 3, 2020 meeting with a July 1, 2020 start date. He currently serves as the assistant principal at the Ballston Spa High School.

“I am continuously grateful for the opportunity to serve the Ballston Spa community and am very excited to do so in the role of Principal at Gordon Creek Elementary,” indicated Brandt. Further, “I am humbled to have been selected for this position and am eager to get started.  I look forward to working with the Gordon Creek students, staff, and families.”

Brandt was previously an administrator at the Queensbury Union Free School District, serving as the Middle School Assistant Principal. He also served as the Principal of the Albany Academy at the Elementary and Middle Schools. His teaching experience includes nine years at the middle and high school, teaching Science.

His past educational experience includes department oversight, curriculum mapping and improvement, implementing restorative practices to build community, and developing social and emotional learning.

He earned a Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Rochester, a Master of Arts in Teaching degree from Union Graduate College, and a Certificate of Advanced Study in Educational Leadership from SUNY Plattsburgh.

After the culmination of a multi-level search process, he was selected as the next principal for Gordon Creek Elementary School. The process involved the review of 49 applications, four rounds of interviews including a presentation to the Board of Education, and finally a discussion with the building Advisory Committee which unanimously chose Brandt. 

“We are thrilled with Brandt’s appointment after a rigorous process. Having a finalist in such a process be one of our current teammates is a great thing for the students, staff, and the District. We are grateful to all of our faculty, staff, and administrators who participated in the interviews and to our parents who participated in the survey process,” said Superintendent Ken Slentz.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — The 2020 school year was marked as unforgettable as students, teachers and parents all moved to distance learning.

COVID-19 changed the world of teaching and soon after the virus struck the Saratoga community, Saratoga Central Catholic School started to implement innovative distance learning. They began online classes on March 18, connecting students daily with set schedules, Zoom classes and encouraging messages for their students. 

“This has been an experiment. We learned by doing and I think that many of the schools have proven they can continue education under very difficult circumstances, which this pandemic certainly is,” Michael Kondratowicz, interim principal said. “The distance learning with contact to the faculty, has allowed the students to be guided by their teachers. It’s helped parents by educating their children and allowing them to meet on a regular basis with their teachers under these unusual circumstances.”

The initial challenge Biology and Earth Science Teacher Kate Sedlak faced with remote learning was discovering methods to relay the education material to the students in a clear, concise manner. 

“In the beginning, I think we never thought that we would be out for the whole year. We thought at the end of spring break we would be back. Once we realized that we wouldn’t be going back, we had to kick it up a notch,” Sedlak said. “Having the video classrooms has been a great thing…the school already has a digital platform we were using that really helped with the transition. It made it easier to communicate because students and faculty already knew the program.”

As a Biology teacher, living through a pandemic brought an ample amount of education material to Sedlak that students could directly relate to. The SpaceX Dragon launch also provided a learning opportunity for Sedlak’s students. 

“I really took what was happening in the world that we live in and related it to the science they are learning. That’s what you have to do when you are teaching…you have to make up fun and relevant material with today’s world,” Sedlak said. 

By relating the material to current events not only engages the students more, but also keeps them motivated as they can directly use the information they are discovering. Maria Izzo, dean of students and teacher for eighth-grade American history and twelfth-grade government, said seeing students online rather than in person has been difficult. 

“It’s difficult for students to not have their teacher in front of them to explain assignments and material. They are all just different levels of learners. Keeping them engaged and motivated as they’re not in front of you has been a challenge,” Izzo said. 

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Thinking creatively has allowed both Izzo and Sedlak to keep the students engaged and motivated while learning through a new medium. 

“There are a lot of resources out there, you just had to go through them and figure out what ones you could use,” Sedlak said. “When I started teaching we didn’t even have computers in the classroom. I had to do all my grades in a grade book with a calculator. Dealing with the technology was an issue and who knows what will happen next year. I’m trying to learn from this experience to see what I have to do next year.”

Izzo said she has run into technology problems as student cameras or microphones won’t work or the Internet crashes, which happened to Izzo just this week. Despite the disturbances with technology, Izzo can use multiple online platforms that allow the students to work in different ways, including group assignments. 

“I have to give a round of applause to our faculty, parents and students who, under these circumstances, have worked really hard to work with programs and try to help educate our students,” Kondratowicz said. “We will continue [distance learning] until June 12 for our seniors and June 19 for other grade levels. Then we will be stopping it and we don’t know what the future will bring. All sorts of government planning and discussions are going on in New York State about what the school year will look like next year.”

Izzo said: “it’s kind of hard to start off a school year with new students. I can only imagine starting in a new school and you’re on a computer…but I can’t even imagine what it would be like for the younger kids. [Distance learning] would be some students first kindergarten experience. I know it’s technology but that in-person connection is needed.”

Sedlak said from what she knows thus far, there are three main options for schools next year. She said the transition would be fluid through the options.

“But nobody knows. No one knows what is going to happen but we have to be ready. Whether it’s partial distance learning, we just have to be ready and prepared,” Sedlak said. “I’m just really proud of my students.”

Izzo added: “What do I think the future holds for remote learning? I hope it’s short-lived and maybe not just the only way we are going to do it. I’m hoping our NYS education system can find a way that we can be with them some of the time. It’s going to be difficult, but we know what we are up against now and we know what precautions we need to take. I think anything is possible to get the kids back into the classroom if you put your mind to it. I think we owe it to [the students], for their education, to try to make it happen to get back into the classrooms.”

SARATOGA SPRINGS — On May 26, 2020, the Saratoga Central Catholic’s Varsity and Junior Varsity Baseball Teams took part in a virtual 5K run to benefit Kelly’s Angels Inc. The Saints were scheduled to have a baseball tournament to support Kelly’s Angels, but had to cancel due to COVID-19. During a Zoom meeting, the varsity players wanted to do one last project as a team to support the organization, and decided on a 5K charity run. The teams received pledges from family and friends and raised a total of $2,305 for Kelly’s Angels Inc. The mantra…Saints helping Angels. 

SARATOGA SPRINGS – The Skidmore College community came together online to celebrate the creativity and resilience of the Class of 2020, whose final semester was interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Thousands of graduates, students, family members, alumni and friends from across the globe watched as Skidmore conferred 647 degrees in an unprecedented virtual commencement ceremony on Saturday, May 30. The event was broadcast live from the Surrey-Williamson Inn on Skidmore’s campus, and streamed on Skidmore’s website and social media accounts.

The tribute included many of the usual components of a traditional Commencement ceremony — a touching rendition of Skidmore’s alma mater performed by Emma Berkowitz ’20 and Lindsay Walsh ’20; welcoming remarks by Jinan Al-Busaidi ’20, senior class president; a speech by faculty speaker Jennifer C. Mueller; and greetings from President Philip A. Glotzbach, who invited graduates to rise and move their tassels from right to left, symbolizing the conferring of degrees. 

But this year was also unique: Like educational institutions across the United States and the world, the College suddenly switched to online learning this spring. During the Commencement ceremony, graduates gathered with friends and family members in smaller groups as part of global social distancing efforts to contain the spread of the disease. 

Rather than walk across the stage at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center (SPAC), graduates, many wearing caps and gowns at home, were recognized during a live program. Diplomas were sent out by mail.

Praising the resilience of the Class of 2020, President Glotzbach noted there was no playbook for the pandemic, nor for life.

“We all had to make it up as we went along — rather like trying to keep an airplane flying while making emergency repairs. But you rose to the challenge. Along with so many people at our College, you displayed flexibility, inventiveness, perseverance and creativity,” the president told graduates. “Yours is arguably one of the most resilient classes in the College’s history — perhaps the most resilient one.” 

BALLSTON SPA — The Ballston Spa Central School District Board of Education recently approved a proposed budget of $93,258,635 for the 2020-2021 school year.

The adopted budget reflects a 1.3% budget-to-budget increase, and a 3.53% tax levy increase, with an estimated average of 1.2% tax rate increase across the district (actual tax rates are set in August). The approximate tax impact is a $52 increase for the average single family home assessed at $253,710. 

Voters in the district are encouraged to learn more about the proposed school budget by reviewing the information on the website or in the district newsletter, which is mailed to all district residences. In addition, residents may call the district’s budget hotline with specific questions for the Assistant Superintendent for Business at 518-884-7195, ext. 1320. Questions and comments may also be sent via the comments section on the district website. 

The annual statewide School Budget Vote and Board of Education Elections is being held by absentee ballot only. All registered voters will be receiving information on the process in the mail in early June. Ballots must be received in the mail, or in the ballot drop box, which will be placed at the entrance of the District Office at 70 Malta Avenue, by 5 p.m. on June 9, 2020. 

There are two full term, three year, board seats up for election this year, commencing in July 2020. Interested voters will select from the following candidates: Matthew Dreher, Rebekah Deuel-Jones, Susan Filburn, Lillian McCarthy, Susan Moore, David Newell, and Katie Whittemore. Board of Education candidates have provided video statements that can be reviewed on the district website. Additional candidate information is also being posted by the Saratoga County League of Women Voters.

Please see the district newsletter for additional information, visit the budget pages of the district website at www.bscsd.org/Page/13104 or call 518-884-7195 ext. 1320 for additional information.

Gallery: 1. Saratoga County 4-H Issue Leader Greg Stevens with 4-H Senior Caleb Wilbur.
2. 4-H Senior Libby Swatling with her brothers Wyatt and Zane.
3/Cover Photo. 4-H Seniors Kurt, Keith, Analiese and Karl Meidenbauer.
Photos provided.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — You might be seeing a few more signs around Saratoga County as 4-H is celebrating the hard work and accomplishments of 4-H Seniors. Saratoga County 4-H and 4-H Teen Council recently delivered yard signs to 30 4-H Seniors throughout the county. These members will also be recognized with a 4-H Senior Spotlight on the Saratoga County 4-H Facebook page.

Many of these members have spent more than a decade as 4-H members, and several have taken leadership roles in their clubs and the 4-H program as a whole. 

“These young people have worked so hard throughout their 4-H career, whether it is raising 4-H project animals, learning and building project skills, or becoming true leaders, we really just want to recognize that hard work and dedication. With the 2020 Saratoga County Fair being cancelled, we felt it was important to let these young men and women know how proud we are of their accomplishments,” said Leland Bunting, 4-H resource educator. 

Cornell Cooperative Extension and Saratoga County 4-H are excited to recognize and congratulate our Senior 4-H Members.

Sarah Johnson. Photo provided.

BALLTSON SPA — The Ballston Spa Central School District has selected Sarah Johnson as its new Malta Avenue Elementary School Principal. 

Johnson was appointed by the Board of Education at its May 20, 2020 meeting with a July 1, 2020 start date. She currently serves as the assistant principal for K-8 schools at Schuylerville CSD.

“I am incredibly excited to begin my role as Malta Avenue Elementary School Principal. It is truly an honor to join this excellent community,” Johnson said. “I share wholeheartedly in the district’s commitment to the well-being of our students and to provide all students with an excellent education. In the coming weeks and months, I am looking forward to getting to know the Malta Avenue students, teachers, parents and community members.”

Her current responsibilities include planning, coordinating, and facilitating curriculum development and curriculum mapping for all grade levels and departments, K-8. She co-planned and co-facilitated the school’s Curriculum Review Committee. She also planned, coordinated, and facilitated professional development for all staff members, K-8, on Next Generation Learning Standards. Additionally, she has led professional development for special education and general education teachers on standards-based IEPs, research-based literacy instruction, accommodations and modifications, Response to Intervention, and
progress monitoring.

Ms. Johnson was previously a Special Education Academic Administrator at the Shenendehowa Central School District. Prior to becoming an administrator, she was a ninth grade special education teacher, spent time as an intervention and data coordinator and served as a learning specialist at a high-achieving public middle school in California.

She earned a Bachelor of Science in Human Development from Cornell University, a Master of Education/Special Education degree from Sonoma State University and a Certificate of Advanced Study in Educational Leadership from the College of Saint Rose.

At the culmination of a two month search process, she was selected as the next principal for Malta Avenue Elementary School. The process involved the review of over seventy applications, four rounds of interviews including a presentation to the Board of Education, and finally a discussion with the building advisory committee who made the unanimous choice.

“Despite the daunting economic and budgetary times that we are in, this is certainly a highlight for us as we are all genuinely excited for Sarah to join our team,” indicated Ken Slentz, Superintendent of Ballston Spa CSD.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — CoSN and EdScoop announced the edtech professionals selected for the 2020 NextGen: Emerging EdTech Leaders Program on May 19.

The program annually recognizes rising technology leaders in K-12 school districts across the United States who have embraced technological innovation to improve education outcomes. WSWHE BOCES is pleased to announce that Assistant Coordinator for Model Schools, Laurie Guyon, was among five educators chosen from a highly accomplished group of finalists nationwide based on their personal essays and the diversity of the populations they serve, among other criteria.

“The 2020 NextGen Program cohort consists of a remarkable set of emerging leaders with the hands-on experience and vision needed to ensure that technology makes a profound difference in education,” said Keith Krueger, CEO of CoSN. “We congratulate each of the winners, as well as all of the applicants, on their accomplishments. This is a new generation of leaders that will help us create a new learning reality.” 

The 2020 NextGen Leaders were honored virtually during the CoSN Annual Conference. 

The award comes at a pivotal time in remote learning. WSWHE BOCES has been supporting teachers with many aspects of this transition. It began with the WSWHE Model Schools team designing a resource website and continues with daily webinars and newsletters. 

Guyon has been helping teachers learn new ways to teach in an online environment.  It started with daily office hours to get teachers up to speed with EdTech tools.  The main goal was to help teachers with Google Classroom and Google Meet. Teachers have the opportunity to schedule individual time with her and many do daily. She and the model schools team shifted to offering daily technology-based webinars. 

“I love what I do,” says Guyon. “It’s a privilege every day to support educators in the creative learning experience. I am honored that CoSN chose me as an Emerging EdTech Leader for 2020.”

Since March 16, 1000 teachers attended at least one of the 100 training hours offered. The Model Schools program has hosted over 70 workshops. They have trained teachers on best practices on all aspects of the G Suite and a multitude of edtech tools.  The daily newsletters offer one location for access to important information. They get hundreds of hits daily. 

“It’s the teachers who come to my training, my workshops, and my webinars that inspire me.  We all want our students to be lifelong learners and our teachers are modeling this every day.”

“Laurie is a true leader in the area of educational technology. Her knowledge of various ed tech tools, combined with over a decade of classroom teaching experience allow her to connect with teachers and inspire them to explore new instructional possibilities. We are thrilled that her talents have been acknowledged on the national level by CoSN,” says David Ashdown, Assistant Director, Instructional Technology Programs at WSWHE BOCES.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — The Saratoga Builders Association, Inc. is proud to announce that they have awarded two $1000 scholarships this year. One is the annual SBA Scholarship and the other is the annual “Bob Best” Memorial Scholarship.

Congratulations to Patrick Egan of Saratoga Springs. Patrick is a senior at Saratoga Springs High School and will be attending SUNY Oswego to study Construction Management. Congratulations to Sean Kempf of Saratoga Springs. Sean is also a senior at Saratoga Springs High School and will be attending Alfred State College to study Construction Management. 

The Saratoga Builders Association makes these student scholarship awards available annually to high school seniors or college students who are planning to pursue a career in the construction industry. 

SARATOGA SPRINGS — The Saratoga Springs City School District has seven candidates running for the Board of Education 2020 vacancies. 

Each year, there are three BOE vacancies, each for three-year terms. On June 1, the candidates will discuss issues in a virtual forum from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. hosted by the League of Women Voters of Saratoga County. The discussion will be hosted on Webex and a log-in will be available on the school’s website with the ability to sign in as an attendee. 

The seven candidates running are as followed: Marissa Altimar, Erika Borman, Anjeanette Emeka, Scott Jackson, Tony Krackeler, Casey Putnam and Matthew Taylor. 

On May 1, Governor Andrew Cuomo announced the 2020 school budget vote and BOE election will take place on June 9. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, the executive order moved the vote to exclusively be done through absentee ballot. The following information is according to each candidate’s Facebook page.

MARISSA ALTIMAR
“I have lived in Saratoga Springs for over 2 years now. Born and raised in Brooklyn, NY, I started out as a single mother at age 22, and worked my way through college after my daughter was born so I could give her a better life, and serve as her role model. She now attends SSHS, and I couldn’t be happier that she is in such a remarkable school.”

ERIKA BORMAN
“My goals:  
• Improve our continuity of learning platform to reach all students during these challenging times. 
• Support policies that address equity in education, mental health and overall safety of our students. 
• Provide teachers with the resources they need to be successful. 
• Protect our education and sports programs. Encourage engagement with our entire school community”

Anjeanette Emeka
“Neighbors, I am finishing the third year of my first term as a board trustee for the Saratoga Springs City School District. It has been hard work, incredibly rewarding and I love it! I hope to gain your support”

SCOTT JACKSON
“I would be proud to serve and represent the SSCSD community if given the opportunity. It takes vision, effective communication skills and business and personnel experience to be a positive contributor to a school board. These are all skills that I use in both the USPS and the U.S. Army every day. All SSCSD students, families, and taxpayers deserve a unified school board that works together towards the future, with the goal of providing children the absolute best public school education and experience.”

TONY KRACKELER
“I think the coming few years are going to be uniquely challenging for our district as processes, procedures, and finances will change and be disrupted. I want to make sure we look out for the students, families, teachers, and staff who will be asked to do things differently in the years ahead but who will still need and deserve the levels of excellence and humanity that they are used to, and which our district continually strives to provide. I would very much like to use my long experience in both education and running a business in the service of an institution (American public education) that has given me and my children far more than I could ever repay.”

CASEY PUTNAM
“It is clear that the months ahead will require creative solutions to unprecedented financial, instructional, and logistical problems. I would like to be part of addressing these challenges in a way that keeps students moving forward academically and perhaps enhances their capacity for empathy, their stores of patience, and their ability to be flexible. I believe we have already seen this is possible from our educators, our students, and our community.”

MATTHEW TAYLOR
“I believe my perspective as a recent graduate is a great benefit and a voice that has never been but should be on the board. I look forward to listening to you and working hard to earn your vote on June 9 (via mail in ballot!).”