Superintendent of Schools Dr. Kurtis Kotes addresses teachers and staff during a Superintendent’s Conference Day on Tuesday, September 1.

All teachers and staff in the East Greenbush Central School District returned to school Tuesday morning for the first of three days of meetings and professional development. Employees filled the Columbia High School auditorium where they were welcomed by Superintendent of Schools Dr. Kurtis Kotes.

Dr. Kotes began by thanking specific departments for their work over the summer, such as Facilities, Human Resources, Technology, and Transportation. Then he focused his message on embracing change as a way to connect with students and educate them for an evolving future.

“Our district does a remarkable job in adapting to student needs,” Dr. Kotes said. “Our teachers, paraprofessionals, support staff, food service workers, and transportation employees regularly reflect and receive training to ensure we do everything possible to best educate and support our students and families in an ever-changing world. We began this year with our theme of ‘Embracing Change.’ This does not mean that we discount what is going well, we simply look at how we can see other things differently that are not. It is best summed up in a quote attributed to Albert Einstein: ‘If you always do what you always did, you will always get what you always got.’ It’s going to be a great Blue Devil year!”

Other opening day presentations included:

• Capital Project Update
• Technology Presentation
• Portrait of a Graduate
• Safety Training
• WinCap Web Refresher

Employees will attend faculty and department meetings, engage in professional development sessions, and set up their classrooms the remainder of this week.

The first day of school for PK-12 students is scheduled for Thursday, September 8.