East Greenbush Central School District appointed Jill Barker as the next principal of Howard L. Goff Middle School and Helen Squillace as the next principal of Red Mill Elementary School, following a vote by the Board of Education on Wednesday evening. Both were internal candidates who have worked as administrators in the district for years, and will start their new positions on July 1, 2019.
Ms. Barker and Ms. Squillace were recommended for the positions by Superintendent Jeff Simons after separate committees represented by school teachers and staff, other building principals and district administrators interviewed the candidates.
“The district cast a wide net to attract a field of several well qualified leaders within the applicant pool for these critical school leadership positions,” said Mr. Simons. “Ms. Barker and Ms. Squillace distinguished themselves among the field as the best prepared to lead our schools to continue providing excellence in teaching and learning to our students. Importantly, these new school leaders are equipped to engage the Goff and Red Mill communities to build on current successes but also push forward with progressive ideas to advance our curriculum ensuring that students are prepared with 21st century experiences.”
Jill Barker
Ms. Barker has served as an assistant principal at Goff Middle School since August 2015 and served as a teacher in the district from 2004-2011. She will succeed Wayne Grignon who will be the next Genet Elementary School Principal.
As an assistant principal, Ms. Barker is responsible for approximately 920 students and supervises 117 staff members. She is the lead evaluator for APPR in the building, leads the Instructional Support Team and created and implemented Academic Intervention Services. Ms. Barker also manages student discipline and serves on a number of committees.
“I am honored to be selected as the next principal at Howard L. Goff Middle School,” said Ms. Barker. “I am proud of the accomplishments that have been achieved at the middle school during my tenure as assistant principal. I am excited to continue and build upon the excellent work that the Goff staff is engaged in every day on behalf of our students. I look forward to working with such a caring and supportive group of professionals, students, parents and community members in my new role as principal.”
Ms. Squillace has been the Director of Pupil Personnel Services since 2005, providing oversight for the district’s Special Education programs and all related and support services throughout the district. She will be succeeding John Caporta at Red Mill who is retiring at the end of the school year.
Helen Squillace
Ms. Squillace supervises over 65 special education and related service personnel throughout the district and manages the administration of various state and federal reporting requirements. Under her leadership, the district has created a number of successful specialized programs to meet the needs of students, including the JumpStart, the Center for Therapeutic Academic Excellence Program and Operation Graduation.
“I am excited and honored to be the next Principal of Red Mill School and look forward to joining Red Mill’s close-knit and caring school community,” said Ms. Squillace. “l am eager to begin working with the students, staff and families to continue the valued traditions and build upon the culture of excellence at Red Mill.”
Both Ms. Barker and Ms. Squillace will be working with their predecessors in the coming months to ensure a smooth transition.