Red Mill Principal Helen Squillace and Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction James McHugh at the 2019 NYSSBA Convention in Rochester, N.Y.
Two East Greenbush Central School District administrators presented about the district’s alternative education programs that have helped raise Columbia’s graduation rate in recent years at the 100th annual New York State School Boards Association Convention on Saturday in Rochester, N.Y.
Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction James McHugh and Red Mill Principal Helen Squillace presented “The Fab 5 That Sent Graduation Rates Soaring!” about the Columbia Alternate Program (CAP), Center for Therapeutic Academic Excellence Program (CTAEP), JumpStart, Operation Graduation and Goff’s Middle School Alternative Program (MAP).
Mr. McHugh and Mrs. Squillace, who is the former director of Pupil Personnel Services which oversaw those programs, discussed how and why those specialized programs were created, as well as their positive impact on those individual students and the district as a whole.
“It was a pleasure to have the opportunity to highlight some of our district’s great work by our dedicated and talented employees,” Mr. McHugh said. “We emphasized that under ESSA we have the responsibility to best ensure that we are meeting the needs of every student. These programs exemplify creating unique environments that best support the varied needs of students.”