Cornwall Central Administrator Honored as Assistant Principal of the Year

Related Media

David Wright

ALBANY, NY (04/26/2022) (readMedia)-- David Wright, assistant principal at Cornwall Central Middle School in the Cornwall Central School District, has been selected as the SAANYS and NAESP New York State Assistant Principal of the Year by the School Administrators Association of New York State (SAANYS). This award is given annually to a member of SAANYS and NAESP (National Association of Elementary School Principals), promoting educational excellence for pre-kindergarten through eighth grade (PreK-8) schooling and calling attention to the fundamental importance of the assistant principal.

Among Wright's many notable accomplishments has been the establishment of Google University for his staff. The district has a goal of being 1:1 with technology by the end of 2022, which means that every student will have their own computer. Wright realized that many of his staff members were not comfortable using the Google platform and that the school needed a long-term goal to help everyone grow as they moved toward that goal.

Wright established Google University, relying on his own expertise as a Google Level 1 and Level 2 certified teacher, as a way to help his staff grow. The course syllabus for each level of learning outlined what would be taught so teachers could participate in the appropriate level for what they needed. Those teachers who mastered the highest level then became "professors" and taught the course to others. Wright notes that through this process of professional development, the district will be a 1:1 district by the end of the school year and the teachers at Cornwall Central Middle School will all be prepared for the initiative.

During the early months of the pandemic, when many schools were concerned about starting the year on time, Wright says he "looked at this as the greatest opportunity and challenge I may ever get to face in my career, with a goal of not only making sure my school opened on time but helping to make sure that a schedule would not impact any school in our district." To prepare for the August 2020 opening, and to ensure that all students would remain safe and socially distant, Wright input all the student information into an Excel spreadsheet and laid out plans for students to remain six feet apart and to open on time in a safe environment.

Assistant Principal Maria Azzone notes that under Wright's leadership, "our school has become transformative. He is a learner alongside his staff, always providing feedback and support. He is passionate about teaching and learning and shows great commitment towards all students' success. He is regularly visible to the entire school community and actively listens and communicates effectively. Overall, Mr. Wright's exceptional leadership qualities and abilities have helped foster a positive and motivating school culture."

Cornwall Central Middle School Principal Kathryn Polumbo says that Wright's daily focus "is on our students and learning. He is approachable, friendly, bright, caring, and empathetic. His main goal, every day, is to make sure our students have the best possible learning environment and school experience. He uses every opportunity to learn about each one of our 1000 students."

Wright received his Master of Science in Education Educational Leadership and his Master of Science in Teacher, Adolescent Education, from St. Thomas Aquinas College in Sparkill, New York, and his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Western New England University in Springfield, Massachusetts.

Wright and fellow 2022 award winners will be recognized at SAANYS' annual awards celebration, taking place on May 6 at the Crown Plaza Albany - Desmond Hotel.

SAANYS represents over 8,000 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).

###