Lisa Mahar Appointed New Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction
Longtime educator Lisa Mahar was appointed as the new Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction by the Board of Education at its public meeting on Wednesday. Mrs. Mahar has worked in the East Greenbush Central School District for 26 years, serving as an elementary teacher (1999-2020), reading teacher (2020-21), Response to Intervention Coordinator (2021-23), and most recently, as the English Language Arts & Multi-Tiered System of Support Coordinator (2023-25).
As Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction, Mrs. Mahar will lead and manage all aspects of the district’s educational programs. She will develop curriculum, provide instructional resources, oversee professional development for all instructional and non-instructional staff, and create a system for evaluating student data to inform decisions.
She will also fulfill state and federal reporting requirements, oversee the pre-k program, and serve as a member of the superintendent’s administrative cabinet.
“I am truly honored and humbled by the Board of Education’s approval of my appointment tonight as the new Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction for the East Greenbush Central School District,” Mrs. Mahar said following her appointment. “I’m eager to begin this new chapter. I look forward to providing academic excellence, stability, and continuity for the district’s curriculum and instruction on a larger scale.”
Mrs. Mahar has been instrumental in moving the district’s instructional program forward over the past four years. She developed a comprehensive K-8 Assessment Guide that includes a universal screener for grades PK-8. This allows teachers to measure each student’s achievement three times per year, identify their skills and proficiency levels, provide interventions, and then track student progress.
She has also worked with teachers to develop curriculum maps that support instruction in the classrooms, facilitated professional development for literacy development, and been involved in writing grants.
Beyond her formal roles, Mrs. Mahar has served as a summer school principal, a content coordinator for Math and Science, and she currently participates in the following district-wide committees: Education, Social Emotional Learning, Multi-Tiered System of Support, Portrait of a Graduate, Literacy, Curriculum Study, Professional Development, and Technology.
Mrs. Mahar was selected from more than two dozen candidates following interviews conducted by teachers, staff, principals and district administrators.
“The district was very fortunate to have received a pool of applicants who were highly qualified and who had much to offer to the position and the students we serve,” said Superintendent Dr. Kurtis Kotes. “Throughout the entire interview process, it was evident that one candidate was not only best prepared to take on this role, but who was most passionate about teaching and learning in East Greenbush. It was clearly evident that Mrs. Mahar was the right candidate, at the right time, to take on this leadership role within our district. I am excited for her to begin in this new capacity and I am confident that she will always stay focused on providing high quality opportunities for our students, while supporting and encouraging all of our faculty, staff and administration so that they can carry out that mission.”
Mrs. Mahar has a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from The College of Saint Rose, a master’s degree in education from Russell Sage College and a School District Leader Certificate from The College of Saint Rose.
Mrs. Mahar starts her new role on August 14.