LaFountain, Strait named to assistant superintendent positions at Broadalbin-Perth

Long-time Broadalbin-Perth leaders Terry LaFountain and Brad Strait were both appointed to assistant superintendent positions by the Board of Education during its April 10 meeting. Starting July 1, LaFountain will be the district’s assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction, and Strait will be the assistant superintendent for operations and safety.

LaFountain has served as the district’s director of curriculum and instruction since 2014. In that role, she oversees all aspects of the district’s instructional programs, pre-K through grade 12; coordinates professional development for all faculty; and works closely with the business office to administer programs funded by state, federal, and private grants. LaFountain previously served as principal of The Learning Community, B-P’s former pre-K through grade 2 primary school, from 2006 to 2014. LaFountain began her career at Broadalbin-Perth in 1999 as a teaching assistant before becoming a high school counselor. LaFountan earned a bachelor’s degree from SUNY Plattsburgh and a master’s degree from Russell Sage. She completed her coursework for her leadership certifications at the College of Saint Rose.

“This is an exciting time for Broadalbin-Perth,” LaFountain said. “I’m looking forward to working with and supporting my leadership colleagues as we create a middle school that serves the unique needs of early adolescents; continue to create rigorous and relevant pathways for our high school students; and maintain a safe and inclusive educational environment where we can engage students in learning.”

Strait succeeded LaFountain as TLC principal in 2014 and continued in that role until 2020, when he was named B-P’s director of special education and intervention services. Strait joined Broadalbin-Perth in 2004 as a special education teacher after completing his bachelor’s degree at Hobart & William Smith Colleges. He earned a master’s degree in childhood special education and a Certificate of Advanced Studies from the College of Saint Rose.

“Throughout my career, I’ve been fortunate to work with a number of different stakeholders to meet the needs of our students, including those dedicated to the operation and safety of our buildings,” Strait said. “Now, I’m looking forward to working with our operations and safety teams full-time and supporting them in serving our students.”

The moves come in advance of the June 30 retirements of Marco Zumbolo, B-P’s assistant superintendent for business and operations, and Mike Carney, the district’s director of operations and safety. Tomlinson explained that these retirements led to changes in the district’s organizational structure that resulted in LaFountain and Strait’s appointments to their new positions. Under the new structure, all instructional leaders, including building principals, will report to LaFountain, while Strait will oversee the district’s transportation, buildings and grounds, food services, and safety departments. Oversight of the business office will move to Tomlinson.

“Stability in leadership is vitally important to our students’ continued success. At Broadalbin-Perth, we have a strong tradition of growing our leaders from within. The Board of Education and I agree that these are the right moves to help us achieve our district goals, and I look forward to continuing to work with Terry and Brad in their new roles."

LaFountain’s current position, director of curriculum and instruction, will be eliminated at the end of the school year. The district is in the process of filling the position of director of special education and intervention services, which Strait will vacate to assume his new role on July 1. With the reduction of one leadership position, Tomlinson says these moves will result in savings on administrative salaries in the 2025-26 budget.