August 19, 2022
Dear North Colonie Community:
The Board of Education of the North Colonie Central School District is pleased to announce that on Monday, August 22, 2022, Deputy Superintendent Kathleen Skeals will be appointed as the District’s Superintendent of Schools effective February 1, 2023. She will succeed D. Joseph Corr who has announced his retirement effective January 31, 2023, after leading the District as its Superintendent of Schools for 12 years. Ms. Skeals is a distinguished educator who has served the District for 32 years as a teacher, English Department Supervisor, Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction and in her current position as Deputy Superintendent.
Ms. Skeals has taught English to students of all ability levels ranging from AIS writing and reading at the Junior High School to Regents level and Advanced Placement courses at Shaker High School. During the course of her 22-year career as a classroom teacher, she served for many years on the District’s Staff Development Committee and the English Language Arts Steering Committee, was instrumental in the development and design of new curriculum initiatives, was a devoted mentor to countless teachers and coordinated literacy development for the District. She also served as a test development and assessment consultant for the New York State Education Department. Ms. Skeals was the recipient of the Peter McManus Award for excellence in teaching, was chosen the New York State Outstanding English Educator and a Claes Nobel Educator of Distinction while teaching at Shaker High School, received the YWCA Resourceful Woman Honoree while she served as Deputy Superintendent, and was the recipient of a Fulbright Scholarship.
As Assistant Superintendent and Deputy Superintendent, Ms. Skeals has worked tirelessly to expand opportunities for students and families. In partnership with Mr. Corr she has overseen the transition from half-day to full-day kindergarten and a capital project that has expanded the District’s vision for education and has included the development of innovation spaces open to all students in grades K-8. Services in the areas of mental health and wellness also have been expanded to better support our students and families and a department of professional learning and leadership has been added to support the work of our teachers. Ms. Skeals’s excellent communication skills have been evident throughout her North Colonie career but perhaps never more so than during the pandemic. Her deep understanding of its impact on students, teachers and families, combined with a mastery of details in the face of ever changing public policy, were evident whenever she spoke for the District. Ms. Skeals’s competence and leadership as we navigated pandemic times helped to inspire trust and confidence as we reopened our schools and returned to normality.
Ms. Skeals writes: “I cannot imagine better preparation for the superintendency than leading and learning alongside D. Joseph Corr from whom I have learned that true leadership is rooted in service to others and true strength is rooted in compassion and commitment to the greater good. I am proud to follow Mr. Corr, a superintendent whose work was rooted in the belief that a quality education is not a privilege for some but a right for all…I look forward to striving to achieve the mission of the District and continuing to expand opportunities for all students to prepare them to successfully navigate their futures.”
The Board of Education has worked collaboratively with Kathleen Skeals for the twelve years she has served as Assistant Superintendent and Deputy Superintendent. We have a great respect for her dedication to our students, teachers and the community. Ms. Skeals has the experience, intellect, compassion and vision to successfully serve as the next Superintendent of Schools of the North Colonie Central School District.
Sincerely,
Linda Harrison, President
North Colonie Central School District Board of Education