Red Hook Leader Honored as NYS High School Assistant Principal of the Year

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Red Hook High School Assistant Principal Colleen Lynch

ALBANY, NY (12/23/2025) (readMedia)-- Colleen Lynch, assistant principal at Red Hook High School, has been selected as the 2026 New York State Secondary School Assistant Principal of the Year by the School Administrators Association of New York State (SAANYS). This award is presented annually by SAANYS and the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) to a middle or high school assistant principal who has demonstrated exceptional leadership, strengthened school culture, and ensured high-quality educational opportunities for all students. As the NYS Secondary School Assistant Principal of the Year, Lynch is now a candidate for the National Assistant Principal of the Year award, sponsored by NASSP.

Lynch, who has served as assistant principal at Red Hook High School for the past three years, says that one of her earliest priorities was strengthening the school's Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS). She explains, "the team, composed of teachers, counselors, and mental health professionals, now takes a comprehensive approach to evaluating and implementing academic, behavioral, and social-emotional interventions that promote student safety and well-being." Lynch emphasizes, "our work extends beyond developing plans of action; we ensure that each plan is implemented with fidelity." As a result, the school's graduation rate increased from 87 percent to 95 percent in just one year.

Lynch has also led several building-wide improvement initiatives designed to enhance student and staff well-being. These initiatives include repainting the building in school colors and an upcoming modernized cafeteria designed to create a more collaborative, student-centered space. She also secured a grant to establish the "Zen Den," a dedicated calming room that students and staff regularly use to decompress, reset, and recharge. She notes that staff and students "consistently report that it helps them relax, reset, and recharge throughout the day."

As chair of the Building-Level Safety Committee, Lynch collaborates with administrators, school resource officers, and mental health professionals to ensure a safe environment for all. She has led the planning and execution of safety drills, developed threat assessment procedures, conducted tabletop exercises, and coordinated trauma-informed assemblies. Most recently, she created and implemented an off-campus evacuation drill for the entire building, designing safety maps and a chain-of-command chart to ensure a thoughtful, organized operation. Lynch reveals, "together, we plan and execute safety drills, conduct threat assessments, develop safety improvement plans, and participate in tabletop exercises."

Lynch also chairs the school's Section 504 Committee, collaborating closely with families, teachers, counselors, and mental health professionals to ensure that accommodations remove barriers to learning. She encourages students to take an active role in their plans, fostering self-advocacy and independence. She has developed new teacher feedback tools, delivered professional development on legal compliance and equitable practices, and implemented systems to ensure consistent monitoring of student support plans.

A strong advocate for inclusivity, Lynch regularly supports the school's Gay-Straight Alliance, and also meets monthly with a rotating panel of students, gathering their insights on school culture, policies, and instructional practices. Lynch highlights the panel's importance, saying, "the insights gained from these conversations directly inform administrative decisions and school improvement initiatives."

Lynch's commitment to elevating student voice extends across her work with instructional programming. Observing a growing need for executive functioning skills among students, she led a cross-disciplinary team in creating Freshman Focus, a course designed to build foundational skills in goal setting, organization, conflict resolution, study habits, and responsible technology use. "By equipping students with these critical skills early in their high school experience," she explains, "we are helping them develop habits that support success both in school and beyond."

Colleagues describe Lynch as a visible, compassionate, and highly effective leader. One teacher wrote in a letter of support, "Her approach includes being a visible presence in the school, where students frequently visit her office not just for administrative matters but as a trusted resource. [She] cultivates a culture of inclusivity and support, where every individual feels valued and heard." High School Principal Kyle Roddey noted, "[Ms. Lynch] cares deeply about student wellbeing and is a fierce student advocate. She consistently provides thoughtful ideas and initiatives to make all students feel welcomed."

Lynch holds a Master of Arts in Teaching from SUNY New Paltz. Outside of school, she is an active community volunteer with Special Olympics and the Food Bank of the Hudson Valley.

Lynch and fellow 2026 award winners will be recognized at SAANYS' annual awards celebration on Friday, May 1 at the Desmond Hotel – Crowne Plaza in Albany, New York.

SAANYS represents nearly 22,000 school administrators, supervisors, and retirees. As a professional association, SAANYS is committed to providing direction, service, and support to educators in their work to strengthen leadership and learning 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).