The Oneida Daily Dispatch (Oneida, NY)
Top 2 super candidates visit district
Stockbridge Valley community leaves good impression
After narrowing the field to 2, Stockbridge Valley hosts the visiting candidates.
MUNNSVILLE>> For both Dr. Mathis Calvin and Linda Goewey, the fact that Stockbridge Valley Central School is the center of a passionate, rural community is driving force behind their decisions to desire employment as the district’s new superintendent.
Both candidates had an opportunity this week to meet members of the staff, community, student body and school board and get to know more about the district. Both of their day long visits to the district ended with a meeting and presentation, giving them both an opportunity to introduce themselves and talk about what they saw and liked about the district and how they would us their individual skills to benefit the SVCS community.
“Stockbridge is an absolutely fantastic district,” Calvin said. “There is a great community here that cares a lot about their school. This is definitely someplace I could work.”
Calvin said he was happy that he was given the opportunity to sit down with members of the community and talk to such a caring, down to earth group of people.
“The passion and love that the community members have for this district really knocked my socks off,” Goewey said. “I’m interested in touching student’s lives in the various ways that I can.”
Goewey said she was happy that she got the opportunity to meet some of the students, specifically the girls soccer players, who she said where bright, witty young women.
“In a small district like this, you are essentially part of the student population,” Goewey said.
Goewey is currently the Assis- tant Superintendent of instruction and personnel at the Central Square School district, a large, rural, multi-facility district in Oswego County.
She has had 21 years of teaching experience, 8 years of administrative experience, but more importantly, she said, is her 23 years of parenting experience, raising her three sons Alexander, Nicholas and Matthew.
Goewey received her degrees from SUNY Oswego, including a bachelor degree in science education, master of science in literacy education, certificate of advanced study in educational administration and participated in their New York State superintendent development program.
Calvin is also a father of three, and currently leads as Superintendent of the New York State School for the Blind in Batavia.
Calvin also said that kids come first. Calvin has a Doctorate in education.
He attended the University of Rochester, Keuka College and St. John Fisher College.
Both of the candidates expressed a desire to bring more pro- gramming into the district as well as enhance its ties to the community. Additionally, both have had success bringing their districts up to common core learning standards, something that they hope they can help at SVCS. Goewey’s Central Square district boasts some of the highest scores in Oswego County, while Calvin said that the School for the Blind is not far behind.
“On academic performance, Stockbridge is doing well as a district,” Calvin said, “but every district looks to improve.”
“I believe that throughout the year, the district must look at its goals and readjust to make sure they are met,” Goewey said.
“I believe that all students can learn and achieve personal success. I want all of Stockbridge’s students to be able to perform at or above their current grade level.”
In the face of nationwide budget cuts in education, both candidates expressed a need for Superintendents to look into grant opportunities for their districts in order to provide better services and programming.
Calvin said that in his time at the NYS School for the Blind, he has secured over $200,000 worth of grant money for technology upgrades, materials and renovation projects that have benefitted his district.
Similarly, Goewey noted bringing iPads and other new devices into her district while she has been part of the instructional administration.
Goewey also said that an important aspect is being able to think outside the box and provide services that don’t meet the budget, such as working with other districts; something Central Square did with Fulton Central School to provide hockey for students.
Calvin said that he has big goals, hoping to extend some of the SVCS district’s national recognition, hoping to bring the current US News bronze rating to a gold rating.
Goewey stressed a desire to provide more college level and advanced placement classes for students, something that is very popular in Central Square where some students are entering college near to sophomore level due to college credits earned in their junior and senior years.
Calvin and Goewey both said that they wanted to strengthen the community aspect of the district, by bringing in local businesses to show small skills and real-world necessities as well as provide mentors.
Goewey offered the idea of more parent-student wellness programs, such as parent-student basketball games.
Both embraced the community as an important aspect, not just of Stockbridge Valley, but their decisions to ant to work there.
“The community aspect is very important to me,” Calvin said. “It has really helped motivate my decision to want to be a part of Stockbridge Valley.”
“I like the idea of being a Superintendent that’s sitting right in the building,” Goewey said. “I’ll be able to get out there, see the students and staff easily and be a part of their personal and professional growth.”
Goewey caption: Superintendent candidate Linda Goewey, center, speaks to community Stockbridge Valley community members John and Theresa Wagner and Thomas Jones III.