The LeRoy Central School District’s Board of Education (BOE), has named three finalists for the district’s next Superintendent.
Donald Hobart, President of the LeRoy Central School District’s BOE, said the search drew an excellent field of candidates.
“It was our goal to select highly qualified individuals for the applicant screening process who are familiar with LeRoy Central Schools and education issues. Our district has a fine reputation and the Board anticipates a difficult decision.”
The three finalists are Jared Taft, Merritt Holly and Brian Bartalo.
Jared Taft is currently the Pathways in Technology (P-TECH) Administrator and High School Assistant Principal of Lackawanna High School in Lackawanna, New York.
Previously, Taft served as the principal of this high school for two years. He spent five years as Principal of Martin Road School, an elementary school in the Lackawanna City School District. From 2007-2008, Taft served as the Principal of Royalton-Hartland Middle School. Previous to this position, he acted as the Assistant Principal of both the Royalton-Hartland Middle and High School for two years.
During his tenure as principal and administrator, he led a number of initiatives including the P-TECH Grant Program, implementation of an annual School Comprehensive Education Plan and School Improvement Plan, as well as leading and managing a Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) Team.
Taft began his work in education as a sixth grade teacher at Roy H. Mann Elementary School in Brooklyn, New York. He holds a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Science from Niagara University in Buffalo, New York, as well as a Master of Science in School Administration and Supervision from Touro College in New York, New York.
Taft holds his permanent certifications as a New York State (NYS) School and School District Administrator, along with certifications in special and elementary education.
Merritt Holly has served as Principal of Caledonia-Mumford High School (HS) since 2011. Previously, he was the Principal of Oakfield-Alabama Middle School and was the Dean of Students at Oakfield-Alabama Middle and Senior High School from 2007-2008.
Holly started his teaching career in 1999 as a ninth grade social studies teacher at Oakfield-Alabama Central Schools, a position he held for eight years.
As principal, Holly is responsible for the supervision of faculty, staff and students for grades 9 through 12. During his tenure as principal of Caledonia-Mumford HS, the school was designated a New York State Reward School three times. The New York State Department of Education presents this award to schools that are high achieving and high progress schools.
Holly presently serves as Central Committee Member of the New York State Public High School Athletic Association and represents Section V.
Holly holds a Bachelor of Arts from The College at Brockport, a Master of Science in Education Curriculum and Instruction from Ithaca College and a Master of Educational Administration from The College at Brockport. Holly holds a number of certifications including New York State Provisional and Permanent Certification in Secondary Social Studies grades 7 through 12 and an Advanced Certificate as School District and School Building Leader.
Brian Bartalo is the High School Principal and International Baccalaureate Head of School of Hilton High School (HS) where he has served since 2005. From 1999 until 2005, he was an Assistant Principal at Hilton HS. Previously, Bartalo served for one year as the Dean of Students at Hilton HS.
As principal of Hilton HS, Bartalo supervises 1,500 students, and is responsible for the hiring, supervision and evaluation of all faculty and staff. He leads a number of school committees and programs including the School Improvement Team, new staff seminars, and an on-site alternative education program. Bartalo also oversees capital improvement projects at the high school.
In 1988, Bartalo began teaching as a special education teacher at Merton Williams School, which is a middle school in the Hilton Central School District.
Bartalo holds a Bachelor of Science from SUNY Buffalo State, and a Master of Science from Syracuse University. He holds a Certificate of Advanced Study in Education Administration from The College at Brockport. He has a NYS Permanent Teaching Certification, and is certified as a NYS School Administrator/Supervisor, and a School District Administrator.
The finalists will visit the district on January 17, 18 and 19. Taft will visit on January 17, Holly on January 18 and Bartalo on January 19. Meet and greet forums, which are open to the public, will be held each day in the Memorial Auditorium at the Wolcott Street School from 4:05 to 4:35 p.m at 2-6 Trigon Park, LeRoy.
Final interviews with the BOE will follow the meet and greet forums. The anticipated start date for the new superintendent is March 1, 2017.
Kevin MacDonald, District Superintendent of the Genesee Valley Educational Partnership, acting as the search consultant said the board has developed and implemented a rigorous process that will help determine the best candidate.
“Each finalist will visit and go through another round of interviews at the district. The process concludes with the board meeting to make a final decision.”
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