submitted by the Berlin Central School District
The Berlin Board of Education has named Dr. Brian Howard as the new Interim Superintendent of the Berlin Central School District. Dr. Howard, an experienced educator, had been the Superintendent for the Queensbury Union Free School District for six years when he retired in 2008. Prior to that, he was Superintendent for the Liberty School District for five years, the Assistant Superintendent for Chatham CSD for one year and Chatham’s High School Principal for nine years before. Howard also held administrative positions in the Cambridge and Ravena
Central School Districts, after teaching social studies for seven years in Brittonkill.
Howard was Superintendent of Queensbury when it was rated one of the top ten school districts in the Greater Capital Region, as reported by the Capital District Business Review, up from the twenty-second spot. He credits the district’s success to a “fine administrative team, supportive school board and community.”
Queensbury is larger than Berlin, with four times the number of students and 501 employees including 300 teachers compared to Berlin’s 196 employees, 87 of whom are teachers. Queensbury’s budget is $52 million; Berlin’s, $18 million. Differences aside, Howard said that he sees “great quality in the District and great potential.”
“I wanted to come to Berlin because it’s a very nice community,” Howard said. “I also want to make a contribution to public schools by helping to bring along the next generation of administrators. Berlin is in between Superintendents,” Howard said. “I want to help the Board of Education and the community bring in the next leader for the District.”
Howard has signed a contract with the District on a per diem basis.
“I look forward to working with the Board of Education, the faculty, the staff, parents and community members for the sake of the students we all care about. If we keep our eye on them, we’ll do what needs to be done.”
Howard recognizes the challenges ahead. “I want the community to know that the health and safety of our students is our first priority, and all issues will be worked on until they’re worked out. The District’s staff and Board of Education,” Howard stated, “are now awaiting the official results of the lead retesting report and will be ready to take action on its recommendations.”
“The concerns of the School District are also the community’s,” Howard noted, “so it’s time to come together to support the positive and work together to solve problems.”
An affable man who grew up in a tiny Adirondack village with a three room schoolhouse, Howard appreciates what the Berlin School District has accomplished. He’s optimistic that “the intention of the majority of residents is to build a better school system for the children of the community – one we can all be proud of. I want to hear from our citizens who want what’s best for our children. I am gathering information in order to work out solutions. When I know, the community will know, so we can have a civil discourse and work together. Facts on the table for all to see.”
Howard started his position officially on October 7. The District will conduct events over the next couple months where parents, students, community members, faculty and staff will have the opportunity to welcome Dr. Howard to the community.