"Capital Education" Winter 2026

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"Capital Education" Winter 2026

From the Superintendent

Fresh perspectives on our students’ futures

The soaring windows in Albany High School’s new library open wide onto the world, allowing sunlight to pour in and offering our students, staff and visitors a beautiful view looking out.

You could say that design allows our students to envision their future, to dream about the possibilities awaiting them beyond high school. Two major events we hosted in the Albany High library this winter emphasized that perspective.

In early February, we welcomed University at Albany President Havidán Rodríguez and members of his team for a joint announcement of a new admissions program. This agreement now guarantees our graduates entry to the university if they meet certain academic criteria (a 90 GPA or higher and a C or better in Algebra II or a higher-level math course).

That will provide nearly 20% of our graduates a no-strings pathway to the major public research university just a handful of traffic lights up Washington Avenue.

Our students meeting those academic requirements already would have been top candidates at UAlbany, but this new partnership offers clarity, simplicity and assurance for them and their families. It builds a pipeline from Albany High to UAlbany and on to the Capital Region workforce, critically important to the future growth of the city and region. This changes the game for our students.

For too long, urban schools like ours have lived under someone else’s story. “They’re underperforming. … They don’t hold high expectations. … The kids aren’t prepared.”

This new partnership with UAlbany rewrites that narrative permanently and publicly. It proves what we’ve always known: Our students CAN. Our students DO. And our students WILL rise to every expectation placed in front of them. This is just the start for our district.

We are working throughout our organization to build even more connections with our higher education and workforce development partners, to align the enormous number of options available at Albany High with the opportunities that will shape our city and region for decades to come.

We returned to the airy Albany High library in mid-March for another event that emphasized that vision. It was our pleasure to host the launch party for the Capital Region Higher Ed Alliance, a collaboration of the colleges and universities throughout our area. These higher education institutions have come together with the Capital Region Chamber and the greater business community on a campaign to re-imagine pathways after high school.

Under the message “College is a Brave Choice,” they are committing to making sure the investment families make in higher education pays off with real value, real support and real outcomes. College is an investment in a lifetime. Education opens doors, creates opportunities and builds futures.

Our region’s higher education community is built to fulfill that promise, and we are glad they chose Albany High – and our magnificent new library – to share their vision of the future with the world for the first time.

There is more to come for us, including continued work to align our academic fabric with the new Portrait of a Graduate framework New York will roll out beginning with the 2027-28 school year. Pathways to high school graduation will diversify under that new framework, and our district – especially Albany High – is well-positioned to put our students on the cutting edge of that new paradigm.

We welcome you to join us on that journey!

Restored windows link past, future generations

For most of the past century, they were a whisper. A rumor. A fading memory.

Locked away in a long-unused classroom in the building that served as Albany High School and Philip Schuyler Elementary School from 1913-2005, the stained-glass windows from the late 19th century and early 20th century, gifts from previous generations of students, were mostly forgotten.

Even after the City School District of Albany had them carefully removed and put in storage to await future opportunities, the windows remained more legend than legacy.

Until now.

Thanks to the Board of Education, a group of community volunteers and a modern generation of Albany High students, three of the elegant, colorful windows now are permanently on display at the new high school.

Located just outside the popular Falcon Market and near the auditorium balcony entrance, the windows were incorporated into the final stages of Albany High’s recent facilities project. The windows once again weave a thread through the history of one of America’s oldest school districts.

“These are essentially relics from our past,” said board member Hassan Elminyawi, who chaired the Ad Hoc Committee on Albany High’s Historic Stained-Glass Windows. “They relay the story of our school and our students.

“They are meaningful gifts from past generations of our students, and preserving and restoring them demonstrates that the Albany community cares about its past and cares about its students.”

A 139-year journey

From 1887 through 1909, graduating classes from Albany High gifted 16 windows to their alma mater. They originally were in the first Albany High, which served students at the corner of Eagle and Columbia streets (the current location of the Albany County Courthouse) from 1876-1913.

The windows then were relocated to the next generation of Albany High on North Lake Avenue between Washington and Western. That building served high school students until 1974, and then elementary students until 2005 (it served a variety of temporary purposes until the district sold it to the University at Albany in 2012).

In anticipation of a future use, the district had the windows professionally removed in 2008 and preserved in the basement of the Harriet Gibbons Student Services Center. And there they rested until 2023, when the 20-member ad hoc committee began its work.

It was like discovering buried treasure when the heavy storage crates were opened to reveal their precious cargo.

“I knew they were old, and I knew they were likely to be beautiful, but I had only seen black-and-white copies,” said Vickie Smith, a former board member and board president during the process of studying the windows.

“When we actually opened up those storage boxes, it was like, ‘Oh, wow! This is really incredible.’”

Billie Murray of WMS Stained Glass has restored thousands of stained-glass windows over a 30-year career. Among the committee volunteers, he noted that several different studios made the windows, and many seem to draw from the world-renowned work of stained-glass artist Lewis Comfort Tiffany.

“They were of the highest quality done at that time,” Murray said. “Everything about them is really special.”

An in-depth research project

Because of the expense associated with refurbishing the windows, the committee worked to choose three for display. The process was deliberate and detailed, focused on the artistic quality and historic content of each window.

The board also asked Albany High to bring together a group of students to do the same intensive research.

In the end, both groups agreed on the top two choices: “Palms Cross” (left), the original stained-glass gift from the Class of 1887, and “Sunset Garden” (right), a gift of the Class of 1891.

After consideration, the committees settled on “Smoky Torch” (center), from the Class of 1896, as the third window for display.

“They are gorgeous,” Murray said. “I cannot recall having seen windows of this quality and this quantity in any other school that I’ve worked in.”

The remaining windows are back in storage, treasures to be explored another day.
One option the committee discussed is loaning out windows for restoration and display in other highly visible venues throughout Albany.

“There are many stories about our city’s history to consider in pondering the history of the windows,” Smith said.

“We still have more windows that our community could uncover the secrets of one day.”

At a Glance: Our Academic & Behavioral Growth

Student Achievement: Albany High 2026 valedictorian Julia Rosi

STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT

Albany High 2026 valedictorian Julia Rosi

With a strong foundation in the fine arts and sciences, Julia Rosi is poised to combine creativity and reasoning to make our world a better place.

Just a few months from graduating as the valedictorian of the Albany High School Class of 2026, she is grateful for the myriad of opportunities that have helped her grow.

“There are so many different pathways at Albany High,” Rosi said. “A student can choose to explore who they are as a person, and as a student. I think it definitely sets them up for the real world.”

Rosi’s interest in art began early in life, and as an elementary student at Albany School for Humanities (ASH) she eagerly explored art, music and theater.

“I developed a love for the arts at a young age and it’s something that I’m glad I was able to experience and that I’ve continued throughout the rest of my education,” she said.

Though her years at Stephen and Harriet Myers Middle School were shaped by the pandemic, she remained grateful for the experience, particularly for the chance to take high school math and science courses in eighth grade.

Upon arriving at Albany High, Rosi remembers being anxious about adjusting to such a large building. But she quickly found her footing, forming friendships with peers who shared her interests and academic drive.

Rosi continued to deepen her involvement in the arts throughout high school. In addition to playing clarinet in the wind ensemble, she has taken a variety of fine arts courses, and is currently the club president for the National Art Honor Society.

Rosi has also cultivated a growing interest in science, with a particular affinity for the environment.

Through her coursework – especially AP Environmental Science – she has come face-to-face with the complex challenges our world is facing, which has inspired her to pursue a career in environmental science.

“Julia is a fantastic, hard-working student with a real interest in nature and the environment,” said science teacher Lawrence Bizzarro. “We need people like her who care.”

While Rosi is still thoughtfully weighing her college options, it is clear that this bright and motivated Falcon will thrive wherever she lands.

Art teacher and National Art Honors Society advisor Ashleigh Harris Johns perhaps summed it up best.

“Julia’s actions are carried out in a way that constantly takes into consideration not only her peers, but humanity as a whole,” Harris Johns said. “I know that her next chapter and those that follow are going to be filled to the brim with amazing things.”

Leading the Way: Marie Culihan

LEADING THE WAY

Marie Culihan

Albany School of Humanities (ASH) Principal

In her ninth year as the principal at Albany School of Humanities, Marie Culihan has led the school’s progress from being a strong academic performer in the City School District of Albany to being one of the highest-performing elementary schools in the entire Capital Region.

ASH is one of the district’s four themed magnet elementary schools, meaning enrollment is open to students city-wide through our annual spring prekindergarten and magnet lotteries. The school’s recent gains under Culihan’s leadership have been notable.

In 2023, ASH was one of 65 U.S. schools – one of just two in New York – recognized as a National ESEA Distinguished School for exceptional achievement. ASH’s performance has continued to accelerate, and it now is the highest-performing elementary school in Albany based on last year’s state exams in math and ELA.

Culihan has been widely recognized for her leadership and her school’s success. That includes three recent awards from the Leverage Leadership Institute – the Proof Point, Impact and Setting the Bar awards for 2026.

Q: ASH has a long history of solid achievement. However, your students’ progress since the pandemic has been exceptional. What have been some of the key elements in that success?

Three key shifts helped shape our trajectory following the pandemic. First, I recognized that as the principal, my most important responsibility is to invest in and support our staff. When educators feel valued, supported and empowered, they are able to bring that same care, commitment and belief to their students every day. Second, we made a deliberate shift away from a remediation mindset and toward a focus on high-quality Tier 1 instructional practices. Finally, we have worked to strengthen our school culture so that ASH truly operates as a family centered on a common goal: Every Student, Every Day. We prioritized strengthening our sense of team and community at a time when connection mattered most. That shared commitment has created a powerful sense of belonging, accountability and possibility for our students.

Q: From a leadership perspective, what are some of your most important words of wisdom for bringing a team of educators together around a common set of goals?

That starts with clarity and a shared purpose. First, invest in your team – when educators feel supported, they are empowered to do their best work. Second, stay anchored in the impact and why of the team. Finally, build a culture where every member of the team is inspecting the expectation and common goals.

Q: How do you keep yourself motivated and challenged?

I believe strongly in maintaining a growth mindset as a leader. We ask our students and teachers to continuously learn and improve, and I hold myself to that same expectation. I intentionally seek opportunities to “sharpen the saw” and strengthen my leadership and instructional practices so I can better support both staff and students. Ultimately, my motivation comes from knowing that the stronger I grow as a leader, the better I can serve everyone in our school community.

Q: Who continues to inspire you?

Every day, I find myself filled with gratitude for the incredible faculty and staff here at ASH. Over the last nine years, I have watched this team pour their hearts into these four walls, creating a transformation where every individual matters. While I may help guide the way, the heartbeat of ASH – the reason our students are blossoming – is truly our devoted staff and this wonderful, supportive community. They are the real heroes of our story.

Alumni Achievement: Ahniysha ‘Baby’ Jackson ’20

ALUMNI ACHIEVEMENT

Ahniysha ‘Baby’ Jackson ’20

The Albany High gym has always been a special place for Class of 2020 graduate Ahniysha “Baby” Jackson – but now she’s seeing it from a whole new perspective.

Jackson returned to The Nest this winter as the assistant girls’ basketball coach following a record-setting career at Siena. Now, instead of hitting 3-pointers, Jackson is helping strategize plays as she works with coach Decky Lawson to mentor the current generation of Falcons.

Her basketball journey began in third grade when her father first introduced her to the sport. She quickly fell in love with the game and seized the opportunity to play club basketball for the next several years.

As a seventh-grader at William S. Hackett Middle School, Jackson joined the modified girls’ basketball team. Her coaches quickly recognized her talent and invited her to compete at the high school level, giving her the chance to join the Falcons’ JV team and sharpen the skills that would one day make her a record-breaking shooter.

During her eighth-grade year, Jackson experienced a moment most varsity players only dream of – stepping onto the court in the Section 2 championship game at MVP Arena. Even though the Falcons narrowly lost that night, it was still an unforgettable milestone that served as a catalytic moment for her basketball career.

After transferring for two years, Jackson returned to Albany High as a junior ready to play ball. She excelled on the court for two years, leading the Falcons to the Section 2 semifinals and earning area all-star recognition both seasons.

As a result of her strong leadership and skills on the court, Siena recruited Jackson to play at the Division I level.

Over her collegiate career, she became Siena’s program record holder for career 3-pointers made and the 30th student-athlete in program history to score 1,000 career points. In her final season (2024-25), she averaged 15.7 points, earned all-conference second-team recognition, made the conference all-academic team, and was Siena’s nominee for the NCAA Woman of the Year award.

Upon graduating in 2025 with a degree in sports communications and an advanced certificate in strategic management, Jackson had the opportunity to return to her high school alma mater as the assistant varsity coach. She seized it wholeheartedly.

Working alongside Lawson, the program’s career leader for coaching victories, Jackson has embraced her new role with enthusiasm and purpose.

“Coaching on the varsity level, it’s fun,” said Jackson, who also works as a hall monitor at Albany High.

“Being able to give these young women the knowledge that I know from playing collegiate basketball, it’s an amazing experience.”

From championship courts to college records and now coaching from the sidelines at Albany High, Jackson’s journey has come full circle.

And as she guides the next generations of Falcons alongside Lawson, the future of Albany High girls’ basketball is in capable hands.

Updates & Accomplishments

Join us in congratulating Rosalind Gaines-Harrell on her new role as our district’s first director of recruitment, development and retention!

Gaines-Harrell has served our district for nearly 33 years total, and as principal of Arbor Hill Elementary School since 2007.

She is known for her exceptional team-building skills, and her ability to cultivate a secure space for sharing thoughts and ideas has been instrumental in promoting collaboration and growth among her colleagues and staff.

Those attributes will serve her well in the new position, a blend of proactive recruitment and retention strategies focused on equity and staff development, especially mentoring new employees in their formative years with the organization.

We are thrilled to announce a new partnership with the University at Albany that guarantees eligible Albany High students admission to the university upon high school graduation!

The assured admission program is designed to support students as they transition from high school to college, connecting students with campus resources and giving them the security of preparing for college well before graduation.

Under the agreement, students who meet the program requirements — which include earning a 90 GPA and completing Algebra II or a higher-level math course with a grade of C or better — will be guaranteed admission to the university as first-year students.

UAlbany President Havidán Rodríguez and Superintendent Joseph Hochreiter (pictured with senior Cleana Brummell) formalized the agreement in a signing ceremony and news conference in the high school library Feb. 9, joined by students, faculty, staff, elected officials and community partners to celebrate the historic agreement.

“This program is a continuation of UAlbany’s commitment to serving the needs of our community and preparing the workforce that will move the Capital Region forward,” said President Rodríguez. “I am grateful to our partners in the City School District of Albany for their collaboration on this transformative program.”

The program could benefit nearly 20% of Albany High’s graduating class annually, simplifying the college application process and removing much of the stress as well.

The partnership builds a pipeline from Albany High to UAlbany and on to the Capital Region workforce, critically important to the future growth of the city and region.

We’re thrilled to announce that Alexander Santana has been appointed as our next elementary instructional supervisor for science, technology, engineering and math, or STEM.

Santana currently serves as the assistant principal at Sheridan Preparatory Academy and will continue in that role through the end of the school year. Prior to that, he spent several years as a math coach and teacher in our district, as well as Clarkstown Central School District and Ithaca City School District.

A native of New York City, Santana is fluent in Spanish and also has extensive training in trauma-informed care and culturally responsive education.

He will begin in his new role July 1, replacing Sara McGraw, who is retiring at the end of the school year.

Albany High School computer science teacher Allen Landman was recognized earlier this winter for his achievement in earning National Board Certification – the gold standard in the teaching profession.

Landman is one of just 60 teachers statewide to earn the prestigious certification this school year. He is one of 15 board-certified teachers in our school district.

The pathway to national board certification takes up to three years and requires numerous examples of a teacher’s work. Candidates also must pass an assessment in their certification area.

Landman also is a New York State Master Teacher, and we are proud to recognize him for his dedication to his students and his craft.

Congratulations to Albany High School girls’ basketball coach Decky Lawson for setting a new program record for coaching wins!

Lawson earned his school-record 215th career victory with the Falcons’ win at Schenectady on Jan. 27.

That moved him past City School District of Albany Hall of Famer Leslie Bogucki, who won 214 games during her stellar coaching career.

In 13 seasons as Albany High’s head coach, Lawson now has 220 career victories following the 2025-26 season. He has led the Falcons to three Section 2 titles, and to the championship game five times overall.

Lawson also has coached Albany High’s girls’ flag football team in its first two seasons, helping lead the Falcons to the Section 2 title game both years and winning the championship last spring.

A former Falcon himself, he also enjoyed a championship season as a student, leading Albany High’s boys’ basketball team to the Section 2 title in 1993.

“Beyond his championships and his coaching victories, Decky is an exceptional leader,” said Kimberly Pilla, director of health, physical education and athletics.

“He has been tireless for decades in helping to build and sustain one of the premier girls’ basketball programs in the Capital Region. That includes his commitment to our Junior Falcons program.

“Decky cares deeply about every student-athlete in our program. He strives to help each of them grow and succeed in the classroom, on the court and in life.”

Albany High's Audrey VanAmburg, Annabelle DiStefano, Mohima Nus and Alexis Martir (pictured L-R) were selected to showcase their artwork in the 2026 Art in 3 Dimensions show, which ran through Feb. 26 at the W.B. Haessig Art Gallery at Mohonason High School in Rotterdam.

Also congratulations to Michael Awili, Michaela Kaitleen Awili, Naomi Calvin, Alex Steuer and Kazi Suprova whose artwork is showcased in the 27th Annual High School Regional Juried Art Exhibition, on view at Albany Center Gallery, through April 24.

We are so proud of our Falcons and their guiding teachers, Thea Beauchamp, David Easton, Kristine Monahan, Theresa Story and Ashleigh Harris Johns.

Albany High junior Yehudah "Hudah" Levi has been selected as the Section 2 representative to attend the 4th Annual NYS Public High School Athletic Association Student Leadership Conference on April 15-16.

Levi is a talented three-season student-athlete who competes at the varsity level in football, wrestling and outdoor track and field.

“Hudah epitomizes the values we strive to instill in all our student-athletes. He is an outstanding student and an exceptional football player, as well as a natural leader," said football coach Mike Ware.

"His respectfulness, relentless work ethic and unwavering commitment set him apart, as he is continually among the hardest workers in any environment,” Ware said.

Albany High senior Noah Bizer reached states for a fourth season in a row this winter, qualifying for the indoor track and field championships!

Bizer soared to a personal record in the 1,000-meter run at states, placing 13th overall with a time of 2:31.87.

He also tied his own personal record with a time of 1:24.89 in the 600-meter run, placing 22nd.

Respected by fellow student-athletes for his sportsmanship, leadership, focus and tenacity, Bizer is a shining example of what it means to be a Falcon.

We are extremely proud of all he has accomplished, not only this winter season, but throughout his high school athletic career as a three-season athlete competing in cross country, and indoor and outdoor track and field.

Albany High sophomore Nevaeh Harvey has been selected to participate in the Classics Through the Ages program, which aims to promote arts education among African-American youth, fostering their interest and knowledge in classical arts.

Linda Jackson-Chalmers from The Albany District Chapter of the Links, Inc., noted that Harvey stood out as the perfect candidate for this year’s financial award due to the video submission of her beautiful violin performance of Song from a Secret Garden, as well as her desire to take additional music lessons to perfect her talent and skills as an instrumentalist.

“I want to continue to do music when I go to college,” Harvey said.

“I really want to play for people and make them happy.”

Student Voice

Staff Perspective

I feel incredibly fortunate that teaching allows me to be a lifelong learner. I love learning new pedagogy, strategies, activities and technology to integrate into the classroom. I appreciate that my students are always on board to try out new things, even if they’re a little unconventional. Every student is like a puzzle, and I want to figure out what is going to be the best thing to help them grow.

Caroline Adam

Third-Grade Teacher | Albany School of Humanities (ASH)

There’s so many great things about Tony Clement Center for Education that it’s hard to say it all! I absolutely love working here. The smaller setting allows me to build strong relationships with students, families and staff. I really enjoy working individually with students to help them grow and achieve success. The creativity of our staff and the drive of our students is what makes this place special to me.

Teresa Adalian

Assistant Principal | Tony Clement Center for Education