Douglas Silvernell
A new assistant superintendent will likely join the incoming superintendent in Saratoga Springs schools next month.
The city school district has recommended Douglas Silvernell, principal of Queensbury Middle School, for the new job of assistant superintendent of 21st century teaching and learning, school officials said Wednesday.
The Board of Education will vote on Silvernell’s appointment June 28. He would start in mid-July at $117,000-a-year. Silvernell would fill a vacancy created by the retirement of Thomas Mele, the assistant superintendent for elementary education, who is retiring next month.
“The new title for the position is part of a district reorganization plan focused on moving the district forward to address changes in federal and state requirements that impact student learning,” a district spokeswoman said in a statement.The district considered about 50 candidates for the job, said Michael Piccirillo, assistant superintendent for secondary education, who becomes superintendent of schools on July 1.
“Doug Silvernell is an excellent match for Saratoga Springs and we look forward to what he brings professionally and personally to our team,” Piccirillo said.
Silvernell said it’s important to have great expectations of students. “Our students will rise to the expectations we set for them,” he said. “I am excited to join the Saratoga Springs City School District team to work to give our children the skills they need to be successful in this 21st century world.”
Silvernell has worked as principal of the Queensbury Middle School since 2003, and as assistant principal for two years prior to that. He began his career teaching high school social studies in 1994 at the North Warren Central School in Chestertown. He joined the Queensbury district in 1995 as an eighth-grade social studies teacher. He was an educational technologist/technology director for the Queensbury district from 1999 to 2001.
Silvernell holds a bachelor’s degree in history from the state University at Albany, a master’s degree in teaching and a certificate of advanced study in education leadership from the state University at Plattsburgh.