Happy summer vacation! School is out for summer break and will resume again in September. The District Office will be open all summer with Monday through Thursday summer hours in July. School offices will close in July and reopen in mid-August.
Find resources to help prepare for the 2018-19 school year in the School Resources section of the website.
See you in September!
The annual retiree celebration at the district office recognized the contributions of 33 GAPS teachers, classified staff and administrators who are leaving the District after serving Greater Albany students for a combined total of 478 years.
Family members and friends joined retirees at the reception. Human Resources Director Randy Lary introduced the following retirees:
Paula Guerrero, Kindergarten Teacher, South Shore: 3 years
Galen Sinkey, Bus Driver, Transportation: 5 years
Michelle Coon, Bus Attendant, Transportation, 9 years
Kathryn Grant, Grade 4 Teacher, Central: 11 years
Virginia Hammond, Special Education Assistant, Clover Ridge: 11 years
Chava Neuhaus, Industrial Arts Teacher, South Albany: 11 years
Isela Avery, Bilingual Assistant, Lafayette: 12 years
Robbe Hood, Trip Bus Driver, Transportation: 12 years
Sharon McKinney, Grade 1 Teacher, Liberty: 12 years
Rebecca Robinson, Social Studies Teacher, Calapooia: 12 years
Leonardo Gonzalez, Custodian, Periwinkle: 13 years
Joanne Miller, Food Service Assistant, Oak: 13 years
Carlene Vey, Secretary I, Special Programs: 13 years
Karen Perry, Grade 1 Teacher, Liberty: 14 years
Margaret Coburn, Science Teacher, Memorial, 15 years
James Haggart, Executive Assistant, District Office: 15 years
Vicky Hughes, Special Education Assistant, Waverly: 17 years
Julie Buchert, Music Teacher, Memorial: 19 years
Peter Claycomb, Behavior Intervention Teacher, Calapooia, 19 years
Cynthia Miller, Grade 3 Teacher, Lafayette: 19 years
Pamela Dodson, Clerical Specialist II, South Albany: 20 years
Janece Vanderburg, Grade 1 Teacher, South Shore: 22 years
MaryLou Boydston, Special Education Assistant, Albany Options: 23 years
Roberta Ingram, Special Education Assistant, Waverly: 23 years
Terri Bridenbeck, Registrar, West Albany: 24 years
Marlene Susnik, Grade 3 Teacher, Liberty: 26 years
Tim Mills, P.E. Teacher, North Albany Middle: 27 years
Jill Clark, Library Assistant, Waverly: 30 years
Cindy Mills, Clerical Special II, Memorial: 30 years
Chris VanCauteren, Social Studies Teacher, South Albany: 31 years
Brent Belveal, Principal, South Albany: 34 years
Jana Swearingen, Social Studies Teacher, Memorial: 36 years
Connie Whipple-Mills, Social Studies Teacher, Memorial: 36 years
Greater Albany Public Schools recently selected Albany resident Lisa Harlan for the assistant superintendent position. The post is currently held by Tonja Everest, who will assume superintendent duties at the Linn Benton Lincoln ESD on July 1.
Harlan was offered the position after an extensive application process. Her official appointment is pending School Board approval at its June 4 meeting.
“A very rigorous hiring process revealed that Lisa is all about kids,” said Everest. “The committee was impressed with her passion, practical decision-making and authentic communication style. They also appreciated her deep knowledge in the areas of curriculum, instruction, and behavior,” she said.
Harlan is currently the Director of Elementary Education for Salem-Keizer Public Schools. She brings bilingual skills and extensive experience in educational leadership. She has taught high school and middle school Spanish at Corvallis High School and Western View Middle School. She has served as a middle school assistant principal at Linus Pauling Middle School, a middle school principal at Cheldelin Middle School and an elementary principal at Lincoln Elementary Dual Language School in Corvallis. She has also been a Director of School Improvement for the Oregon Department of Education.
Harlan earned her B.A. in Education from Western Oregon University, her M.Ed. From University of Oregon, and her administrative licensure from Portland State University.
Harlan is an Albany resident with children in GAPS schools. Upon accepting the offer for the position, she said, “I am so glad to serve a district that has served my family so well.”
La Sra. Lisa Harlan fue seleccionada para la posición de Asistente Superintendente del Distrito de las Escuelas Públicas de Greater Albany
Las Escuelas Públicas de Greater Albany, recientemente seleccionó a la residente deAlbany Sra. Lisa Harlan, para la posición de Asistente Superintendente. El cargo actualmente lo ocupa la Sra. Tonja Everest, quien asumirá sus obligaciones como superintendente de Linn Benton Lincoln ESD el 1° de julio. A la Sra. Harlan se le ofreció el puesto después de un extenso proceso de contratación. Su nombramiento oficial está pendiente de la aprobación de la Mesa Directiva en su junta del 4 de junio.
Un proceso de contratación muy riguroso reveló que Lisa se enfoca en los niños", dijo la Sra. Everest. "El comité quedó impresionado con su pasión, su toma de decisions práctica y su auténtico estilo de comunicación. También apreciaron su profundo conocimiento en las áreas de planes de estudio, instrucción y comportamiento", dijo. La Sra. Harlan es actualmente la Directora de Educación Primaria de las Escuelas Públicas del Distrito Salem-Keizer. Ella aporta habilidades bilingües y una amplia experiencia en liderazgo educativo. Ella ha enseñado español en la preparatoria y secundaria en la preparatoria Corvallis High School y escuela secundaria Western View Middle School. Ella se ha desempeñado como subdirectora de la secundaria en la escuela secundaria Linus Pauling Middle School, directora de la escuela secundaria Cheldelin Middle School y como directora de la escuela primaria de idioma dual Lincoln Elementary School en Corvallis. Ella también ha sido Directora de Mejoramiento Escolar para el Departamento de Educación de Oregon.
La Sra. Harlan obtuvo su grado de bachiller (B.A) en el área de la Educación en la universidad “Western Oregon University”, su grado de master en Educación en la universidad “University of Oregon”, y su licenciatura administrativa en la Universidad “Portland State University”.
La Sra. Harlan reside en Albany con niños en las escuelas de GAPS. Al aceptar la oferta para el puesto, ella dijo: "Estoy muy contenta de servir a un distrito que ha servido tan bien a mi familia.”
The second bond information meeting is tonight at South Albany High School. The community meeting is open to the public.
Please join us and learn about the projects in the voter-approved 2017 bond measure. Construction will start this summer at several sites.
At the first annual GAPS Student All-Stars Celebration, the School Board honored outstanding students from each school. Students were nominated by school staff and introduced by the school principal.
Lafayette Elementary All-Stars are:
Sabrina Zhang (pictured)
Sabrina Zhang is a new student to Lafayette Elementary, and she has quickly proven she is a very respectful, responsible girl who makes excellent choices and always tries her best. In fact, she goes above and beyond, asking what more she can do, and taking on more responsibilities than is expected of her. She takes pride in her classroom job and in her school work, and is an example to all. She has a very bright future ahead of her.
Allie Kennedy (not present)
Allie Kennedy is a kind, caring, helpful student who is well-liked by everyone. She is always wanting to go the extra mile to help out someone who may need it, or to work on the classroom library, file papers, hand out newsletters, clean up after others, and more. Allie is very responsible and makes excellent choices, and she tries her very best in class. Allie is an exceptional member of our class and Lafayette Elementary School School.
