South Glens Falls Administrator Selected Middle School Principal of the Year

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Mark Fish

ALBANY, NY (04/08/2010)(readMedia)-- Mark E. Fish, principal at Oliver W. Winch Middle School in the South Glens Falls Central School District, has been selected as the 2010 New York State Middle School Principal of the Year by the School Administrators Association of New York State (SAANYS). This award is given annually to a member of SAANYS who has set the pace, character, and quality of education for the children 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.

Fish has been an educator for 23 years and a school administrator in South Glens Falls for 14. Oliver W. Winch Middle School is a suburban middle school, grades 6-8, in Saratoga County with a total enrollment of 765. During his tenure, Fish led the transition of Oliver Winch from a traditional junior high school to a nationally recognized standards based middle level program. In addition, under his leadership, the middle school was designated as a member of the New York State Essential Elements School-to-Watch program. Oliver Winch Middle School was also recognized in Just for the Kids NY, a research project that profiled a sample of seven New York middle schools whose students have performed consistently well for at least three years compared to students in similar middle schools. In these schools, students scored better than students in similar schools on New York State's Intermediate-Level (Grade 8) Science Examination.

In a letter of recommendation from faculty members Matthew Conrick and Olivia Sutton, Fish is complimented on his leadership skills, his dedication to his students and the community, and his many accomplishments. They note that he is open to creative ideas and sets high expectations. According to James McCarthy, superintendent of schools, "He [Fish] is aware, cognizant, and clearly sensitive to issues involving quality education taking place in his school as well as the state. He is totally professional and yet humanistic when it comes to his hometown." Joseph Palmer, a fellow principal in the district, stated that "Mr. Fish is a creative and innovative thinker who not only shows dedication to Oliver Winch Middle School, his staff, and his fellow administrators, but is also extremely dedicated to our school community. He works extremely hard to foster a positive relationship between home and school, while providing a safe environment for his students."

Fish holds a bachelor's degree in physical education from SUNY Cortland and master's degrees in both educational theory and practice, and educational administration and policy study from the University at Albany. He is an active member of SAANYS, the National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP), the NYS Middle School Association, and several other professional associations. In addition, Fish serves on the Moreau Community Center board of directors and has been a volunteer coach in several sports for many years.

Fish will be honored for his accomplishments at an awards ceremony on May 7, 2010 at the Gideon Putnam Hotel in Saratoga Springs, New York. As New York's Middle School Principal of the Year, Fish will be celebrated as a National Distinguished Principal by the National Association of Elementary School Principals at a recognition ceremony in Washington, D.C. sponsored by NAESP and Valic.

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SAANYS represents more than 7,000 school administrators, supervisors, and coordinators. As a professional association, SAANYS is committed to providing direction, service, and support to its members 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 and the National Association of Secondary School Principals.