C-C’s new superintendent comes home to take the helm

Pam Kissel, the new superintendent of the Churchville-Chili Central School District, stands in front of the house on Dewey Street where she was born and raised as a child. The house was built around 1840. “These are the fields and barn where my sisters and I set cabbage and picked potatoes and most of all, learned the value of hard work.” Photograph by Walter Horylev.

C-C’s new superintendent comes home to take the helm

She wanted her parents to hear the excitement so she stood before their graves in the Maple Grove Cemetery in Churchville to tell them about it. Dr. Pam Kissel was getting ready to head into an interview that would change the course of her life.

It wouldn’t be the first time that Pam (Way) Kissel’s life was altered for the better by Churchville-Chili Central Schools. She can remember two previous experiences vividly. First, it was the English teacher who took the time to care about some of the poor decisions she was making.

“She said to me, ‘What are you doing? You’re a smart girl,’ ” said Kissel. It was enough attention to make her think more critically about the path that she was on.

Then it was the senior prom, which served as a first date with an upstanding young man, John Kissel, who she would eventually marry and with whom she would raise a family.

Now Kissel will start the 2007-08 school year as Superintendent of Schools for the Churchville-Chili Central School District.

“I’m really excited about this, and I view it as an awesome opportunity to give back to the place where I grew up,” said Kissel. For Churchville’s newest superintendent life began on a farm at 120 Dewey Street on the furthest south end of Ogden. As one of Harold and Abby Way’s five daughters, work was plentiful and life was good.

“My father was very demanding,” said Kissel. “He worked us as if we were boys.” In cabbage season Kissel remembers setting cabbage from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.

“You’re physically tired after a day like that,” said Kissel. That raised-on-the-farm work ethic has served her well in life. Kissel began her teaching career in 1979 for Wayland Central Schools. From there she held several administrative positions including serving as high school principal in Penfield. In 2001 she became the Assistant Superintendent of Instruction at the Monroe 2-Orleans BOCES and also began as an adjunct professor at Roberts Wesleyan College.

Personally, Kissel has been happily married to her husband, John, for 36 years. They live in Rochester and have two grown children, Aaron Kissel and Abbie Kissel Paine. They have one grandson, Jack, who is one year old.

In her tenure at BOCES 2, Kissel earned recognition as a leader in curriculum and professional development on a regional level. Her work, in the form of balanced literacy, has positively impacted several local districts including Churchville-Chili.

Kissel said she will focus on continuing those efforts within the district as part of her commitment to quality instruction for all learners. Kissel said a major challenge ahead for the district is to make sure that every graduate will be well prepared for a world that is quickly changing.

“My life’s work is giving back to children so they can achieve their dreams,” said Kissel. “In the 21st century it is essential that we have children who can take what they learn and apply it in new settings.”

To help facilitate that effort Kissel said she wants to shape an atmosphere of mutual respect and trust among faculty, staff and students.

“Mutual respect and trust are the building blocks of any healthy family,” said Kissel. “It is in all of our best interests to make Churchville-Chili the best district possible, and to do that we’ll need to work well together.”

For Kissel, the opportunity to lead the school district in her hometown provides great opportunities.

“I can come in here not only with my academic hat, but with my heart,” said Kissel. “My heart is here.”