VOORHEESVILLE - Patrick Corrigan is ready to step up to the challenge of being associate principal of Voorheesville's high school.
He says he is "excited and energized" by issues handled by administrators. Having been a teacher for 14 years, Corrigan said he understands that teachers need good administrators.

Corrigan was appointed to the post by a unanimous vote of the school board at Monday's meeting. The position has an annual salary of $72,000.

He succeeds Michael Paolino, who recently accepted a job as principal of Guilderland High School. Ed Diegel, who was the principal of Voorheesville Elementary School for 15 years, has been filling the post, and will continue on in that capacity until Corrigan steps in. The date for the transition hasn't been set because a replacement has to be found for Corrigan in the classroom.
"He has done an outstanding job through their development as well as their courses," said Superintendent Linda Langevin, of Corrigan's work with Vorrheesville students.

Corrigan, who is in his seventh year working at Voorheesville, teaches 12th-grade social studies and chairs the department. He is also the advisor to the National Honor Society.

In his first teaching job, Corrigan taught Advanced Placement economics in one classroom, and then later walked to a room down the hall where he taught middle-school social studies, he said. That job tested his flexibility, he said.
"I feel like I've had a good run in the classroom" I've enjoyed what I've done," Corrigan told The Enterprise this week.
Langevin said that Corrigan teaches Advanced Placement courses in a "rigorous way," and ensures that his students grasp the concepts.
The board will likely make an appointment to fill Corrigan's vacated teaching post at its Dec. 10 meeting, said Langevin. She said that her sense is that the shift will take place by the end of the semester. "It won't happen by Thanksgiving," she said.

Langevin said that the board felt that immediately transferring Corrigan into his new administrative post and bringing in a substitute to teach his classes until someone is hired would be hard on students, and the board chose not to do that.
Corrigan really has a knowledge of curriculum, said Langevin. " He has a dependability and loyalty to the district, and a strong ability to lead," she said, adding that he commands respect from his peers.

New duties

As associate principal, Corrigan will be working mainly in the area of supporting students, she said. He will assist Principal Mark Diefendorf, and will fill in for him if he is absent.

Corrigan will also be responsible for student discipline; monitoring student attendance; assisting with the supervision and evaluation of classroom instruction; monitoring progress of at-risk students; coordinating activities of substitute teachers; and working with student, teacher, parent, and community groups to improve the overall effectiveness of the school's educational program.
"We've got a lot of things in the works," said Corrigan of the district. "I'm excited about that," he said. "It's exciting to be in a school where people are looking to create growth."
On Tuesday, after his appointment by the school board, Corrigan said that his students were all very congratulatory. They were "much nicer than I expected them to be," he joked.
"I was very flattered by how the students treated me," he said, adding that many were "legitimately concerned" about how the transition will impact them.
"I think there will be a lot of work involved," said Corrigan, of the shift from the classroom to the administration. He joked that he won't be taking an extended vacation any time soon.
It has been his experience, said Corrigan, that, when they need to, students "rise to the occasion."
"My expectation is that they will respect me as their associate principal just as they did as their teacher," he said. "My feeling is the kids probably want this to work as much as I want it to work," he said.
"I bring a lot of energy to what I do," said Corrigan. "Helping kids is important to me. It has carried me through my career," he said.
"In the classroom, you just get those moments that are just real comedy," said Corrigan, who says he has a good sense of humor about things. "I have fun just about every day I'm at work," he said, referring to the dynamic of the classroom. "Some of that will be lessened" as an administrator, he said.
"I know the district, I know where the challenges lie," he said. "I know the culture here and the needs of the building, Corrigan concluded, "And I'm willing to listen to people along the way."