VOORHEESVILLE — The schools’ superintendent is leaving what she calls “a pot of gold” here to follow her rainbow, returning to her first love — teaching.
“I’m going to be 65 in November,” she told The Enterprise this week, “so the time is right.” She told the school board Monday she’ll retire after this school year.

Thayer Snyder said she is “a teacher at heart,” and ended up in administration by accident.

In 1988, she began teaching at Emma Willard children’s school in Troy after taking a break from teaching to raise her own young children. When the school’s director left in 1990, her colleagues said she should apply for the job, and, after taking their advice, she was given the position.

“That was a growth experience,” she said of her transition into an administrative role.

She then spent time in administration at Brittonkill Central School District, east of Troy, then at Shenendahowa in Clifton Park, before coming to Voorheesville.

While at Shenendahowa, where Thayer Snyder served as deputy superintendent, the superintendent position at Voorheesville became available, and she was eager to apply.

“Voorheesville was kind of mystic,” she said, “a small school that was very high achieving.”

After going through rounds of interviews, and finally landing the job, Thayer Snyder began her duties with delight.

“It was an exciting opportunity for me,” she said of working at Voorheesville.

“We have enthusiastic kids who take the initiative to learn, and parents that are supportive of that,” she said.

Thayer Snyder also said she loves the small size of Voorheesville, where she has been superintendent for the past six years.

“I’ve been kind of counterculture when it comes to testing changes and the Common Core,” she said, “and the district has been very supportive of that.”

The teachers and administrators work hard so the students can continue to achieve high scores, which allows Thayer Snyder to continue raising questions about the changes, she said.

“They have afforded me the opportunity to question things and be critical,” which schools that are not achieving as highly may not be able to do, she said.

Her critical thinking skills were honed as a philosophy student as Siena, where she earned her undergraduate degree, and even more so at the University of Vermont, where she earned her master’s in the subject.

Later, she attended Sage College for her master’s degree in education, and then continued her schooling at the University at Albany for her doctorate in educational theory and practice.

This summer, Thayer Snyder found a paper she wrote for a course 42 years ago about engaging students, and described it as a paper she would still write today.

“My favorite thing to do is teach,” Thayer Snyder said, “and my second favorite is writing.”

She spent many years teaching at local colleges, and may go back to teaching at one after her retirement from administration.

“Going back to local colleges would be like going home,” she said.

But, for now, Thayer Snyder is still at the helm of the Voorheesville Central School District, and enjoying every minute of it.

“It’s an adventure every day,” she said.

“I certainly wish my successor well,” she said. “Voorheesville is like a little pot of gold at the foot of the Helderbergs.”