The Owen D. Young Central School District has a new superintendent and assistant principal.
Virginia A. Keegan is the new superintendent of schools and Keara A. Battisti is the new assistant principal.
Keegan had served as the K-12 building principal in the Gilboa-Conesville Central School District since 2004, and Battisti was a nine-year special education teacher in the St. Johnsville Central School District. Both received unanimous appointments for the district’s board of education.
Prior to becoming a school administrator, Keegan taught business education for 21 years in public and parochial schools. She holds bachelor of science and master of arts degrees from SUNY Albany and received her district administrative certificate from SUNY Cortland.
“After an exhaustive and exciting search process we are pleased that our result is the appointment of an insightful, energetic and highly competent educational leader in Virginia Keegan,” said school board President Cathy Mayton-Collins. “We are confident Ms. Keegan will provide the guidance and leadership that will continue the strong commitment of pursuing excellence in academics as well as citizenry of the district.”
Mayton-Collins added that Keegan was unanimously selected based on the board of education’s belief that she possessed the strongest leadership qualities necessary to achieve high levels of student learning in traditional and nontraditional methods.
“I am delighted to have the opportunity to work with and serve the students, faculty, staff and community of the Owen D. Young Central School District in my new position,” said Keegan, who has two daughters, Meghan and Melissa. “Living on the historic campus will enable me to be available to all stakeholders in an effort to meet the district’s goals established by the board of education.”
Battisti, nominated by one of her students in 2004-05 for Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers, holds a bachelor of science degree from Utica College, a master of science degree in special education from SUNY New Paltz and a master of science degree in curriculum, instruction and assessment from Walden University. She received her school district leader and school building leader certificates from SUNY Cortland.
“I am excited about becoming an integral part of the community within the Owen D. Young Central School District and look forward to accepting the challenges the position will bring forth,” said Battisti, who lives in St. Johnsville with her husband, Darin, and two children, Reese and Quinn.
Mayton-Collins added that the board gratefully acknowledges the professional services brought by Robert Heinkel of the Orion Educational Consulting firm to the search process. She also said that the board thanks the members of the community for their participation.
“The board of education invites the entire Owen D. Young school community to join us in warmly welcoming Superintendent Virginia A. Keegan and Assistant Principal Keara A. Battisti to our district,” said Mayton-Collins.