Thursday, December 27, 2018

Utilizing the Danielson's Framework in the New York Educational System


Kieran Stack served as an assistant principal in the New York educational system for more than two decades. During his tenure, Kieran Stack managed administrative activities for students and staff, including teacher training and classroom facilitation strategies. For the Brewster Central School District, he utilized the Danielson’s Framework for Teaching in accordance with the district's Strategic Coherence Plan.

Charlotte Danielson developed the Danielson’s Framework to increase clear and meaningful discourse about teaching best practices. The United States educational system uses her definition of teaching, Framework for Teaching, more widely than any other definition.

Kieran Stack observed and evaluated teachers in his role as assistant principal, using the Danielson's Framework to identify their most vital responsibilities in improving student performance. Although Danielson outlines twenty-two such responsibilities, the majority of Stack's work centered on four: Planning and Preparation, Classroom Environment, Instruction, and Professional Responsibilities. By focusing on these core components of instruction, he was able to maintain high educational standards despite the innate complexities of the classroom environment.

Monday, December 10, 2018

A Look at New York State's Top Golf Courses


Between 1998 and 2018, Kieran Stack functioned as assistant principal for the Brewster Central School District in Brewster, New York. His responsibilities in this role involved managing 120 staff and faculty personnel, as well as 1,200 students. Beyond his work in education, Kieran Stack enjoys staying active by cycling and playing golf.

According to Golf Digest, the No. 1 golf course in the state of New York for the 2017-2018 golf season can be found at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club in Southampton. Retaining its rank from the prior season, Shinnecock Hills is widely recognized as one of the first links ever developed in the United States. Willie Davis oversaw the course's initial design and construction in 1892, while restoration and renovations have been completed as recently as 2012. As a reflection of the course’s championship grade design, Shinnecock Hills was selected to host both the 2018 and 2026 US Open events. The course ranked No. 4 in the United States for 2017-2018, having ranked as high as No. 2 in the nation in recent years.

Shinnecock Hills was followed by Southampton’s National Golf Links of America (No. 8 in the US), Winged Foot Golf Club West in Mamaroneck (No. 10), and the course at Fishers Island Club (No. 11). Overall, 12 New York courses were ranked among America’s top 100 courses.

Wednesday, November 14, 2018

The Putnam Trailway in Putnam County New York


For more than 20 years, Kieran Stack served as an assistant principal at Brewster Central School District in Brewster, New York. Now retired, Kieran Stack spends his free time enjoying various activities, including golfing, reading, and biking.

Located in New York's Putnam County, the village of Brewster and the surrounding area offer various trails for those who enjoy biking and other outdoor activities. One of the area's most popular biking routes is the Putnam Trailway, a paved 12-mile path that caters to cyclists, pedestrians, and in-line skaters. 

Most of the trail is on right-of-way lands that were formerly used by the New York City Railroad to carry freight and passengers between Brewster and the Bronx. Today, the Putnam Trailway connects to the North County Trailway, which continues through Westchester County and ends in New York City. 

Two branch lines of the Putnam Trailway are currently under development. When completed, one will extend from Lake Mahopac to Goldens Bridge, and the other will extend from Baldwin Place to Mahopac Falls. Additional information about the Putnam Trailway is available at www.putnamcountyny.com/parks-recreation/bike-path.

Thursday, September 20, 2018

Re-establishing the Value of the Assistant Principal


After earning his MBA from Iona College in 1991, Kieran Stack devoted his professional life to education, serving as a teacher and school administrator. Kieran Stack spent the last 19 years with Brewster High School as assistant principal, until he retired in early 2018.

For many years, the educational community has done a disservice to the role of assistant principal, viewing it as nothing more than a last step before becoming a principal. With educational reforms implemented all around the globe, the role of the principal has evolved from being just a building manager to an instructional leader. The expectations for principals are larger than ever, making the role of assistant principal even more important.

Here’s what the public and private educational community should do to re-establish the value of the role of the assistant principal.

1. Schools should lead in putting an end to the perception that the position of assistant principal is a stepping stone toward becoming a principal. It should not be assumed that the assistant principal automatically succeeds the principal in the event of a vacancy.

2. When a teacher is elevated to the position of assistant principal, he or she has to leave the classroom to take on administrative functions. This transition is not always easy and requires a different skill set. The educational community should be active in the transition period to help the new assistant principal develop his or her confidence and master his or her new functions. 

3. Important tasks of the assistant principal include leading instructional and non-instructional staff, preparing schedules for teachers and students, managing student behavior and dealing with behavioral issues, tracking the school’s budget, evaluating the performance of teachers and staff, and conducting staff meetings when necessary. These are tasks performed by the operations manager or chief operations officer. It may be time for the educational community to confer such titles upon assistant principals.