District News
Two administrators appointed Nov. 10 by school board
The
Saratoga Springs Board of Education
approved two key administrative appointments during the Nov. 10
meeting at the Maple Avenue Middle School.
Deborah Balcanoff, the school district’s assistant director for
pupil services since 2001, has been appointed director for pupil
services, succeeding Noreen Walker, who is retiring.
| Deborah Balcanoff Dr. Angelina Bergin |
Dr. Angelina Bergin, currently principal of Lansingburgh High School, has been appointed as the director for human resource services. Dr. Bergin will succeed Karen Stanley, who is also retiring. Both positions are effective Jan. 4, 2010.
In her new role, Ms. Balcanoff will oversee the education of
more than 700 special education students, representing about 10
percent of the total enrollment.
Ms. Balcanoff is a certified school district administrator and
school counselor. She earned her bachelor’s degree in social
science from Westfield State College in Westfield, MA, and a
master’s in education and certificate of advanced study in
rehabilitation counseling from Springfield College in
Springfield, MA. She holds school counselor certification from
the College of St. Rose in Albany and has completed coursework
in educational administration at the Massachusetts College of
Liberal Arts. Before coming to
Saratoga, she worked as a school counselor in three schools and
as an administrator for vocational rehabilitation and wellness
programs.
“As the director for pupil services, I will be working with
district and building administrators, staff and parents to
provide and utilize best practices for our students with
disabilities within our district so they can achieve at their
highest levels,” Ms. Balcanoff said.
Dr. Bergin will oversee personnel matters for approximately
1,200 school district employees in her new position.
Before her 2005 appointment as Lansingburgh principal,
Dr. Bergin was an assistant principal and interim assistant
principal at Lansingburgh for two years. Prior to that, she
worked as a science teacher in several schools.
Dr. Bergin holds a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from the
College of St. Rose, a master’s degree in curriculum design and
instructional technology from the University at Albany, and a
doctorate in educational leadership from Sage Graduate School.
She is a certified school district administrator, and also
completed coursework in educational administration at the
Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts.
“I like to look at leadership as a way to work with people to
maximize their potential,”
Dr. Bergin said. “I plan to hit the ground running. Karen
Stanley has created a great department, and my role is to
continue that great tradition.”
In announcing the appointments, Dr. Janice White,
superintendent of schools, extended a warm welcome to both Dr.
Bergin and Ms. Balcanoff.
“We
are fortunate to be able to appoint two individuals to these
critical positions who demonstrate the passion, commitment and
knowledge that is essential for success,” said Dr. White.
“Serving special needs students well and recruiting and
retaining the highest quality employees are components of our
district that have been a strength and will continue in that
manner with these well-qualified administrators.”