West Canada Valley Principal Inducted as President of School Administrators Association

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Frank Sutliff

ALBANY, NY (11/08/2013)(readMedia)-- Frank Sutliff, principal of West Canada Valley Junior/Senior High School in Newport, NY, was inducted as the 41st president of the School Administrators Association of New York State (SAANYS) at its 2013 Annual Conference in Rochester on October 21. Sutliff succeeds Karl Thielking, principal of Pittsford-Mendon High School. Sutliff is a long-standing member of SAANYS, having attended his first Annual Conference twenty-five years ago in 1988.

Sutliff began his career in public education in 1983 as a library media specialist for Saranac Central Schools. He has been the Jr/Sr high school principal at West Canada Valley since 1988.

In his well received acceptance remarks to association members at the October 21 conference, Sutliff shared these thoughts: "When I left my K-8 library at Saranac Central School a quarter century ago to become a junior/senior high school principal, the faculty there gave me a laminated poster which I have kept to this day. On this poster are 'Twenty Rules a Good Administrator Must Remember.' I would like to share two that I believe should be foremost as we continue in our roles as building principals, supervisors, and educational leaders. First, 'Always do what is right for your students. Never compromise on this, not with parents, not with teachers, not with your superintendent, and not with your board of education.' In light of the realities we now face, I would now add and not with the Board of Regents and not with the New York State Education Department. The second rule states, 'If forced to do something that is not in the best interests of your students, protest the action and continue to work to change it.' That is what I believe can and should be our role not only as educators, but as members of SAANYS. We need to continue to work to change it."

Sutliff received his Bachelors of Science degree in history and secondary education from SUNY Geneseo, Master's degree in library science from SUNY Albany, and his post Masters work in educational administration from SUNY Plattsburgh. He holds certifications in the areas of School District Administrator (SDA), School Administrator/Supervisor (SAS), Social Studies 7-12, and School Library Media Specialist K-12. He is a graduate of Gloversville High School.

SAANYS represents over 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 the state affiliate to both the National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP) and the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP).

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