Spring Recess

All schools will be closed for Spring Recess starting Thursday, March 28 through Monday, April 8. The first day back from break is scheduled for Tuesday, April 9. Have a safe and enjoyable break!

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Sarah Hoffman will serve as an Interim Assistant Principal at Columbia High School this year.

Sarah Hoffman will serve as an Interim Assistant Principal at Columbia High School this year.

After 13 years of teaching science at Columbia High School, Sarah Hoffman is taking a new role as Interim Assistant Principal. She is filling in for Marty Mahar this school year while he serves as Interim Principal at Bell Top.

For the past two years, Mrs. Hoffman has served as the Science Department Chair. She has New York State Administrative Certificates for both building and district levels and completed administrative internships with Principal Sawchuk and Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction Dr. Lynne Pampel.

We sat down with Mrs. Hoffman to learn more about her and her new responsibilities.

Q: How is the job going so far?
A: It’s been going great. Principal Sawchuk and Assistant Principals Tim Malloy and Ed Kilmartin have been very helpful this summer.

Q: What are your duties as assistant principal?
A: I will work with the freshman class, participate in class meetings and other school events, handle discipline and any other issues that come up. I will attend Principal Sawchuk’s daily morning meeting and the monthly academic council meeting. I’m also going to work with the STEM Academy, APEX, distance learning, the Questar and Transitions group, the APPR committee and will be the liaison with the Science Department, which is great because I don’t want to stray too far from my roots.

Q: How did you get into education?
A: I started out as a pre-med student, earned my degree in biology and then worked in biomedical sales. I traveled all over the country installing software and hardware for medical research. So I was teaching doctors, researchers and medical students how to use this technology and how to analyze the data. I realized I enjoyed the teaching part of it a lot more than the sales part. So I quit that job, went back to school and got certified to teach science.

Q: How has your background prepared you for this position?
A: Becoming department chair allowed me to be more involved in the school and to see the administrative side of education. Then doing the two internships, at the building level and the district level, gave me different opportunities for administrative experience.

Q: Why did you decide to take this position?
A: I thought it would be a really great opportunity to get more experience. It was a nice transition because I know the building and I’m familiar with the people and how things work. I love working here.

Q: What are you most looking forward to this year?
A: I’m really looking forward to meeting the freshmen and working with them on a different level. I’m grateful for having the opportunity to continue to work with my colleagues.