Ticonderoga Central shifts administrative chairs

There were some new faces and some old in new places as the 2014-15 school year started for the Ticonderoga Central School District. In the high school, John Donohue joined his sixth graders from the Ticonderoga Elementary and Middle school in "advancing" to the high school facility. "I felt this was a neat opportunity to see the end product of where our kids end up," said Donohue, who spent 12 years at the elementary school (two as principal), said. "It was the chance to stay in the district that I love, have my children enrolled in and am especially proud of." Donohue said it has been enjoyable to see the students in the high school, many of whom he instructed at the elementary school. His goals entering his new position are to keep moving forward and building upon what is already there. "We really want to maintain the success this building has with a variety of elective courses, great enrollment in advanced placement courses and helping students to transition into the 'real world,' whatever that may be for each of them," Donohue said. "I will also spend some time to see what can be built upon because there are always places to improve." Superintendent Dr. John McDonald said Donohue approached him about the high school leadership position when it became available. "He expressed interest before we started doing a search and he was a natural fit," McDonald said. "The teachers and the board are both very pleased. Most of the kids know him so there is already a good relationship between both sides." When Donohue addressed students on the first day of school Sept. 5, he told them, "take a look inside and decide how you want your year to be." Elementary school new faces Replacing Donohue at the elementary and middle school is John Perreault, a Saratoga Springs native and Plattsburgh State graduate who spent the past few years as a teacher and administrator in North Carolina. "We had our daughter and we wanted her to grow up in the North Country," Perreault said. "Ever since we went down there we have been looking to come back. I am glad Ticonderoga opened up because everyone has been great and you are hard-pressed to find someone that wouldn't help us in one way or another when we moved here." Perreault said he looks forward to working with the school staff and faculty to address the challenges it faces, including Common Core regulations. "North Carolina struggled with the Common Core just like New York - New York has actually given it a little more structure and support," he said. "I am fortunate to be following in the footsteps of a great administration and a veteran staff who is very dedicated to their jobs." Perreault said the goal of everyone at the school to have the end in mind for its students. "They all look at how to get them ready for the next year as well as the high school and the next step beyond their school years," Perreault said. "I am focused on learning what has happened here, what is going on now and then always be looking for opportunities to get better." Another strength Perreault sees with the district is the community support. "You can tell by looking at our playground how much the community takes pride in the school," he said. This school is for the community and is supported entirely by the community." Perreault said he has talked with Donohue about the position, while he also has the ear of former lead teacher and current CES chair Tracy Price. "Tracy is right across the hall and has been a great asset," Perreault said. Price moved into the CES chair responsibilities when Jennifer Bull moved out of the district. To replace her, the school opted to hire Herb Tedford as an assistant principal. "We found that having someone in a half teaching and half administrative position was not effective," McDonald said of the change. "Tracy had a background in special education so it was a natural fit when Mrs. Bull moved on. We felt we needed to hire an assistant principal who will be stationed in the elementary school but will have responsibilities at both facilities. "I want to bring a sense of trying to help the kids make the right choices," said Tedford, who last worked at a clinical day treatment school in Connecticut. "I want to help them structure their lives to meet expectations both academically and behaviorally. I have been meeting a lot of people and the staff has a lot of energy and enthusiasm."

Signup for our newsletter

Ticonderoga Central shifts administrative chairs

COMPANY

CUSTOMER SUPPORT

SUBMISSION FORMS

BEYOND THE NEWS