Brighton's Dr. Hall Selected as NYS High School Principal of the Year

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ALBANY, NY (03/29/2017) (readMedia)-- The School Administrators Association of New York State (SAANYS) has selected Dr. Thomas Hall, principal at Brighton High School, as the New York State High School Principal of the Year. The award is given annually to a member of SAANYS who has set the pace, character, and quality of education for the students in his or her school. Nominees are administrators who are committed to students, parents, and the community and have shown exceptional contributions to the educational process.

Hall will also represent New York as the NASSP NYS Principal of the Year as sponsored by SAANYS' national affiliate, the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP). In addition to selecting a National Principal of the Year from all the state finalists, NASSP honors all state principals of the year at the Principal's Institute held each year in Washington, DC.

Hall's nomination was supported by teachers, students, community members, and fellow administrators, all noting his commitment to school climate, student supports, and teacher growth. In the past four years under Dr. Hall's leadership June graduation rates have increased from 86.4 percent to 96 percent and notably, June graduation rates for special education students rose to 88 percent, the highest special education graduation rate in Monroe County. This is not by happenstance, but rather a result of Hall's creation of support and monitoring teams put in place to offer targeted interventions to students. "He never loses sight of the individual child," commented fellow administrator Robert Thomas.

"When a school is lucky enough to have a principal with Dr. Hall's passion, ingenuity, intelligence, and genuine kindness, its students are prepared to achieve greatness," said student leaders Ally Thayer and Matthew Lipschitz. "Dr. Hall feels as though he succeeds when his students succeed; however, we feel it is time for him to receive recognition solely as a reflection of him."

"Never can I recall feeling as though an honor was more deservedly or accurately being awarded," said Brighton Superintendent Dr. Kevin McGowan. "Dr. Tom Hall is an outstanding leader. He is an even better person."

Dr. Hall started his career in education as a biology teacher at Brighton in 1996. In 2001, he became an assistant principal at Newark but returned to Brighton as an assistant principal in 2002. He later acted as principal at French Road Elementary School before becoming Brighton High School principal in 2012. Hall received his bachelors in biology and doctorate in education and educational administration from the University of Rochester; his masters in administration from SUNY Brockport.

Hall will be honored for his accomplishments at an awards ceremony on May 5 in Albany, New York.

SAANYS represents nearly 7,200 school administrators, supervisors, and coordinators. As a professional association, SAANYS is committed to providing direction, service, and support to the membership in their efforts to improve the quality of education and leadership in New York State schools. SAANYS is affiliated with the National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP) and the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP).

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