Valhalla Names New Schools Superintendent

From Valhalla Union Free School District: Following a months-long search for the ideal candidate, the Valhalla Union Free School District has selected Dr. Karen Geelan as its incoming superintendent. Dr. Geelan will take over from current superintendent Dr. Brenda Myers, who is retiring this fall.Dr. Geelan was officially appointed at the Aug. 22 Board of Education meeting, with an expected start date of Nov. 1. She is currently the superintendent of the Allegany-Limestone Central School District in western New York and has years of experience as an educational leader.“This will be a new challenge and a new frontier,” Dr. Geelan said. “Valhalla is a really good fit. I saw people who are focused on the right things. This will be a very exciting change. When I visited Valhalla, I got the sense that this was a comfortable place I could call home.”Dr. Geelan hails from western New York and has served as superintendent of Allegany-Limestone for the past six years.

Prior to that, she spent 11 years as an administrator and 12 as a teacher. She looks forward to sharing her strengths and passion for education with the Valhalla community.“Everything I’ve done, I’ve loved,” she said. “As a superintendent, I love this job. It’s the best job in the world. I enjoy it every day. It can be challenging, but I’m always up for the challenge. It’s important to stay on a path of continual improvement. We have to be reflective practitioners.”Dr. Geelan noted that it is important to periodically ask: “How are we doing? And how do we know?” She stressed the importance of creating a clear plan and working toward it while observing how data is gathered in order to make better decisions. “We don’t want to change for the sake of changing,” she continued. “We don’t want to deplete resources – time, money and personnel. We need to be able to take care of each other and help people strengthen themselves.”The Valhalla Board of Education began its search for a new superintendent in March, following the announcement of Dr. Myers’ intention to retire. The board hired the educational search firm Hazard, Young, Attea and Associates to assist them with finding the best candidate. In May, board members held two community forums and posted a survey online, encouraging residents to participate in the search process and share what they wanted in a new leader. Approximately 250 community members participated in the search process, including parents, students and staff members.

The search firm cultivated a leadership profile based on the community’s feedback and worked with the Board of Education to find suitable candidates who matched the profile. The profile expressed that the community wanted an experienced educator with deep teaching and administrative experience. The candidate was also to have experience dealing with budgetary constraints, professional development and building project management, along with a keen ability to work well with staff and residents. Thirty-nine people either applied or were recruited for the position – initial candidates included superintendents, assistant superintendents and principals from the tri-state area and a handful of other states.Dr. Geelan was chosen as Valhalla’s next superintendent due to her extensive experience as a district leader, including strong knowledge regarding budget constraints, legal concerns, union issues and capital improvements. She is also an engaging speaker, good listener and understands the importance of diversity within schools.

The Board of Education is confident that it made the best decision for Valhalla’s future.“The board is very excited to welcome Dr. Geelan to the Valhalla community,” said school board President Bob Ierace. “The breadth and depth of her educational leadership experience makes her a great choice to continue the growth of the district’s successful programs, as well as to create, uncover and implement new and exciting opportunities for our students. Dr. Geelan is the leader who is ready to meet the district’s current and future needs.”Dr. Myers will retire after leading the Valhalla Union Free School District for seven years as a champion for students, committed to providing equity and access for all. Dr. Myers improved the quality of Valhalla’s instructional programs by focusing on 21st Century Learning, integrating the powerful use of technology and implementing comprehensive support systems for families. In addition, she developed a sustainable long-term budget development plan that placed Valhalla on a positive financial path, and invested in capital projects to improve district safety. She has a total of 34 years of experience in public schools and has become a prominent leader in her field. She has been recognized statewide for her work on leadership development, instructional theory and assessment design.

Image Courtesy of Valhalla School District