Williamsville CSD Administrator Honored for Leadership in Education

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Christopher McGinley

ALBANY, NY (04/13/2017) (readMedia)-- Dr. Christopher McGinley, instructional specialist for k-12 mathematics at Williamsville Central School District, has been selected as the 2017 recipient of the Leadership and Support Award by the School Administrators Association of New York State (SAANYS).

The SAANYS Leadership and Support Award was established to recognize the outstanding leadership efforts of those members whose responsibilities require leadership through support services to educators and students across and between buildings and districts.

A dedicated educational administrator in a large school district serving almost 10,000 students in thirteen schools and one alternative education center, McGinley is known as a trusted leader in the community and a tireless advocate for students, supportive of parents, and a promoter of professional development for teachers and other administrators. Believing that "communities are the backbones of our society and that our educational community is not just comprised of the one in which we work," he routinely invites educators from local colleges and from outside the district to professional development opportunities. Some of these have included regional math conferences; Common Core math institutes; a support group centered around implementation of standards, best practices, and assessment; as well as recurring parent math nights to which an estimated 700 parents have attended over the last two years. Dodge Elementary School Principal Charles Smilinich commented, "Dr. McGinley is one of those rare educational leaders who truly understands the holistic nature of the k-12 educational system and how to support fellow administrators – both within and among school districts."

McGinley was also recognized by the United States Congress in 2006 for outstanding and invaluable service to education, advises the New York State Education Department in the area of mathematics, curriculum, and assessment by serving on the commissioner's Content Advisory Panels, and has formed his own advisory group in Western NY. Commented colleague Eileen K. Ryan, "Dr. McGinley is highly regarded as a steadfast advocate for educators, providing them with every possible valuable resource to improve student learning. It is little wonder that literally hundreds of teachers volunteer to work on teams and committees led by Dr. McGinley."

Noted in a joint letter by Superintendent of Schools Anthony J. Panella and Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum, Instruction, and Technology Ryan Schoenfeld from the neighboring Amherst Central School District that "the handful of examples shared in [their] letter only scratches the surface of the contributions that Dr. McGinley has made to the field of education. He has touched many educators' lives, who in turn shape the trajectory of our learners."

McGinley received his bachelor of arts, master of business administration, and master of science from Canisius College, and his certificate of advanced study and doctor of education from the University at Buffalo.