The Waterloo Central School District Board of Education approved the appointment of Sarah Cupelli as the District’s new Superintendent of Schools at a special meeting this week.
Cupelli comes to Waterloo with over 20 years of experience in the educational field. She most recently served as the deputy superintendent for the Auburn Enlarged City School District. Cupelli previously served as principal and summer school coordinator for the Syracuse City School District and assistant principal, after-school program director, and elementary school teacher for the Geneva City School District.
Cupelli said she is also excited to return to her “home,” the Finger Lakes, as a place that is so near to her heart. She spent her formative years in Geneva and has fond memories of her time in the Waterloo community. She has strong ties to the region and looks forward to her return to make a positive impact in our community.
“We are very excited to welcome Ms. Cupelli to our Waterloo community,” says Board of Education President Christopher Felice. “Through the search process, it was clear that Ms. Cupelli’s vision and passion align with our District’s needs and culture. We are very excited to welcome Ms. Cupelli back to the Finger Lakes Region and look forward to collaborative work to support our District and school community. The Board of Education is confident that the experience and dedication Ms. Cupelli brings to the position will support and continue to grow our District’s mission and commitment to all students.”
“I am incredibly honored and excited to have the opportunity to serve as Superintendent of the Waterloo Central School District,” says Cupelli. “As a life-long resident of Upstate NY and the Finger Lakes region, I’m well aware of the Waterloo community’s strong traditions and inclusive and supportive nature, of which I can’t wait to be a part. In my role, I am committed to empowering all stakeholders as we work collaboratively to empower our students and school community to ensure a path of success for all of our students – moving forward as All Students. All Staff. One Family.”
Even though Cupelli will assume the responsibilities of the Waterloo Central School District Superintendent position on August 16th, she has identified four priority areas while sharing her entry plan with the community:
- Safe Space: Create a welcoming environment and inclusive atmosphere where differences are celebrated, and new ideas valued
- Wellness: Prioritize the well-being of all WCSD students and staff to ensure necessary support
- Academic Success: Provide assistance to students and development opportunities for personal and purposeful growth of all staff members
- Teamwork: Implement innovative structures, MTSS protocols with fidelity and coordinate support to include all staff members purposefully
According to the district, phase one of Cupelli’s three-phase entry plan has already begun, as she will work to build relationships with community and staff members, review policies, data and contracts, and develop branding for the district parent organization before her official arrival in August.
The next phase, beginning at the start of the school year includes continuing to meet with stakeholders, establishing team norms, creating a communication plan, setting accountability structures, and beginning systems review and visioning work.
The third and final phase comes later this fall through the remainder of the school year. It includes implementing and monitoring systems, innovative curriculum planning, and social-emotional learning. The plan also includes a focus on building district culture, climate planning, and expanding on team and community relationship building.
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