NEWS
Chatham Welcomes New Assistant Principal
Please welcome Mrs. Karen Bechdol, who was appointed High School/Middle School Assistant Principal by the Board of Education in August. She will serve as the assistant principal at Chatham High School for the 2010-11 school year, and following retirements next year at the Middle School, she will assume assistant principal duties for both buildings.
“I am excited to be working with the students and staff here,” she says. “Chatham has a great learning environment and I am glad of the opportunity to be part of its leadership team.”
Chatham received 135 applications for the assistant principal position. Mrs. Bechdol was one of seven finalists who were interviewed by a committee of students, parents, teachers and administrative staff.
She comes to Chatham with eleven years experience as an educator. She most recently worked for Troy City Schools as the district’s English Language Arts Curriculum Leader. Her career in education began at Troy High School as an English teacher, and she later served as that district’s Grade Seven through Twelve English Curriculum Leader.
Mrs. Bechdol holds a bachelor’s degree in English and a master’s degree in secondary English education. She also holds an advanced graduate certificate in educational administration and recently received her school building leader certification. She is currently pursuing her school district leader certification at UAlbany and is considering earning her Ph.D.
She has a husband and five children who range in age from twelve to twenty-five.
Here in Chatham Mrs. Bechdol has been busy preparing for when classes resume in September. “We have been taking a hard look at what students need to be successful in the future world, and how we can best prepare them for success,” she says.