Strait named Director of Special Education;
Casey named principal of new B-P Elementary School
Two long-time district leaders will take on new roles starting July 1, Superintendent of Schools Stephen Tomlinson announced Monday, May 18. Bradley Strait, who has served as building leader of The Learning Community since 2014, has been named Director of Special Education and Intervention Services, and Daniel Casey, who has been principal at B-P Intermediate School since 2009, will be principal of the new pre-K through grade 6 Broadalbin-Perth Elementary School when it opens in September 2020.
“For more than 15 years, Mr. Strait has dedicated himself to serving the needs of B-P’s students with grace, compassion, and professionalism. I am certain the TLC staff will miss Mr. Strait’s quiet, but steadfast leadership and support, but their loss is the district’s gain,” Tomlinson said. “Mr. Casey has proven to be a dynamic and charismatic leader of elementary staff and students, and I am excited for him to lead them all through this transition into the next chapter in B-P’s history.”
As principal at TLC, Strait expanded opportunities for Broadalbin-Perth’s youngest learners, including introducing the Project Lead the Way curriculum and expanding the swimming program at the Fulton County Y. Under his leadership, participation in TLC’s literacy programs increased, and the school introduced new special events, such as STEAM Night. The Learning Community’s efforts under Strait’s leadership were acknowledged by the New York State Education Department in 2019, when TLC was named the first Recognition School in the HFM BOCES region.
Strait joined Broadalbin-Perth as a special education teacher in 2004. A graduate of Hobart College, Strait completed his master’s degree in special education in 2008 and his Certificate of Advanced Study in 2015, both at the College of St. Rose. He holds New York state certifications in School District Leader, School Building Leader, childhood education, and special education for grades 1-6. Strait succeeds Christine Foglia-Sands, who has been Broadalbin-Perth’s Director of Special Programs since 2001 and is retiring at the end of the school year.
“I’m going to miss being so directly involved with the students — watching how timid they are at the start of school and then finding their niche and excelling as they finish second grade,” Strait said. “But as a former special education teacher, I’ve always enjoyed working to align our programs to meet the needs of all of the students that we serve. I look forward to continuing to do that work in my new role.”
In Casey’s role as intermediate school principal, he has already led students and staff through a transition when the sixth grade moved to B-P Middle School and the third grade moved to BPIS from TLC. During his tenure, students’ proficiency rates were consistently at or above state and regional averages on New York state assessments. Casey led the intermediate school through the implementation of the Common Core state standards and the resulting curriculum changes, and he worked with teachers to incorporate grade-level team teaching in fourth and fifth grade. Casey also collaborated with teachers and members of the community to create such programs as Community Connections, Slice and a Story, and the Amazing Math Race.
Prior to taking the lead at BPIS, Casey worked for one year as assistant principal at B-P High School. He started in B-P in 2002 as a high school English teacher. Casey earned his bachelor’s degree, master’s degree in curriculum and instruction, and Certificate of Advanced Study all from SUNY Plattsburgh. He holds New York state certifications in School District Leader, School Building Leader, and English 7-12.
“I am honored and humbled to be given the opportunity to lead the new Broadalbin-Perth Elementary School,” Casey said. “As a parent in the district, I take this responsibility personally and look forward to opening the doors to new ideas and unique adventures. I have been fortunate to learn from many outstanding educators during my time in the district and I am excited to bring aspects of three B-P buildings together to create an environment focused on the social, emotional, and academic success of the students we serve.”
Tomlinson said the district will advertise for an assistant elementary school principal by the end of the week.