SARANAC — Students at Saranac Elementary School will arrive for their first day of classes this September to find a new woman in charge.
Tracy Manor will take over as head of the school on Monday, replacing longtime Saranac Elementary Principal Marguerite Tamer, who announced her retirement this spring after 20 years in the position.
Manor is no stranger to the district, as she was the assistant principal of Saranac High School from February 2009 to November 2010.
The past two years, she has held that position at Beekmantown Middle School.
“I feel very thankful for the opportunity,” Manor said of returning to Saranac Central.
“I started my administrative career at Saranac working in the High School as assistant principal, and I gained a myriad of experiences.
“I developed a lot of positive relationships, both personally and professionally, there.”
TAUGHT SCIENCE
Manor also taught seventh- and eighth-grade science at Beekmantown Middle School for 11 years and served that district as coordinator of the school’s Fitness Center, eighth-grade class adviser, curriculum lead teacher, cross-country and track coach and Student Council adviser.
She is a regional trainer of Positive Behavior Intervention and Support, a model subscribed to by many school districts that focuses on nurturing student strengths rather than focusing on negative behaviors.
“Mrs. Manor has effective communications skills, proven leadership abilities, a belief in building a strong school-community relationship and a genuine commitment to improving student achievement for all students,” Saranac Central School District Superintendent Ken Cringle said in an email to the Press-Republican.
“I’m confident she will continue to build on the district’s strengths and strive toward enhancing the targeted areas for sustained student growth.”
‘LIKE A FAMILY’
Manor’s new position at Saranac Central will be her first working in an elementary-school setting, which she hopes will give her a new perspective and round out her experiences as an administrator.
“I’m looking forward to the challenge and the new experience that I’m going to gain,”she said.
With major changes, including the implementation of the Annual Professional Performance Review, taking place in all of the state’s public school’s over the course of the next year, Manor is focused on being a strong leader for faculty and staff at Saranac Elementary.
The Performance Review requires annual evaluation of teachers and principals, based, in part, on their students’ growth and academic performance.
“My biggest goal for this year starting out,” Manor said, “is to make sure our teachers and staff have all the tools they need in regards to APPR and just to build their confidence.
“Ultimately, what I love about Saranac is it’s like a family ... I’m just looking forward to returning and continuing to make a positive contribution.”
Email Ashleigh Livingston:
alivingston@pressrepublican.com
