Stanley Harper Takes Over as Salmon River CSD Superintendent

Big changes are taking place in the Salmon River Central School District, as longtime superintendent Ms. Jane Collins retired last week and Mr. Stanley Harper stepped into the head role on Monday.

Mr. Harper is a graduate of Geneseo College and he received his advanced degrees from the Sage Colleges, where he is currently completing the final phases of the Doctoral Program in Educational Administration.

Before assuming the Salmon River post, Mr. Harper was with the City School District of Albany, where he was Director of Pupil Personnel Services. He also worked in the District as an assistant principal and a house principal. Prior to that, he worked as an elementary school teacher and a night high school director in the Troy City School District.

Under his leadership as the Director of Pupil Personnel Services, Mr. Harper helped redesign and implement a district-wide attendance policy to increase student attendance. According to Mr. Harper, after this redesign, attendance rates rose from 93% to 95% at the primary level and from 88% to 93% at the secondary level.

Mr. Harper also successfully developed and implemented a district-wide professional development plan for administrators and staff on Dignity for All Students (DASA) as well as DASA embedded instruction. As a result, DASA incidents decreased from 419 incidents to 149 incidents in 2013-14; a decrease of 270 incidents district-wide.

"I have lofty goals for the Salmon River School District. I'd like to see Salmon River reach 100% graduation rate by 2020 - a goal that's in alignment with America's Promise Alliance and their GradNation goal of a 90% by 2020," said Mr. Harper. "I'd like to see 100%, it's a lofty goal but we have to strive for that."

Mr. Harper said that in order to achieve that objective, the District will have to provide targeted interventions and support for students to reach those goals.

Going forward, Mr. Harper said the District needs full collaboration between parents, staff, and community.

"It is imperative that we have a system of triangulation, a three-way partnership between family, school, and community. This relationship is most critical to help students achieve success," said Mr. Harper. "We also need complete transparency. It is very important to me to keep everyone abreast of what's going on in the District."

Mr. Harper's contract runs for three years and three days –– overlapping the final few days of Ms. Collins' tenure.

"I'd like to thank Jane Collins for her outstanding leadership and for setting the table so nicely here at Salmon River CSD for my transition as the new superintendent. "

Salmon River's outgoing superintendent said she's retiring proud of the District and with full confidence in its new leader.

"I am confident that Mr. Harper will lead the District in new directions, not only building on the solid success that the District has achieved, but continuing to set high goals and put students first," Ms. Collins said.