For the first time in district history, Schuylerville began the school year with a trio of female principals serving its school buildings, an important mark not only for the district as a whole, but for young students who look up to these leaders as examples for their futures.
Superintendent of Schools Dr. Ryan Sherman highlighted that representation during his opening-day remarks to faculty and staff.
“Our Board of Education president and vice president are women. Our STA president and vice president are women. Our CSEA president and treasurer are women. All of our building principals are women, along with our Director of Pupil Personnel Services, Lindsay Ochal, our Assistant Superintendent for Business, Christine Burke, our Director of Food Service, Sarah Keen, our Director of Curriculum and Instruction, Amy Steele-Whitney, and our Director of Communications, Taryn Kane.”
Dr. Sherman noted that the makeup of Schuylerville’s leadership reflects a broader change that has taken place in education. While women have historically represented a significant portion of the education workforce, leadership and administrative positions were traditionally more likely to be held by men. Today, that landscape looks much different, including at Schuylerville.
“The number of women serving in leadership positions throughout our school district is a reflection of how far we have come,” Dr. Sherman said. “Today, women are leading our schools, our departments, our employee organizations, and our Board of Education.”
Stacy Marzullo: A new role and a familiar district
For Schuylerville High School Principal, Stacy Marzullo, becoming principal of Schuylerville High School marks a new chapter within a district she already knows well. Marzullo served as Schuylerville Elementary School principal for three years before transitioning to the high school principal position July 1. She previously served as Director of Elementary Special Education for the Niskayuna Central School District, leading the PreK–5 special education department and serving as CPSE/CSE chairperson. Earlier, she worked within the Hamilton-Fulton-Montgomery BOCES Special Education Division as a Curriculum & School Health Support Specialist and later as an Administrative Coordinator. Like the other members of Schuylerville’s principal team, Marzullo began her career in the classroom. She taught for seven years in the Greater Amsterdam School District, where she also served as a fifth-grade curriculum leader.
“I’m incredibly proud to be part of the first female leadership team in our district, alongside women who care deeply about our students, staff, and community. There is something powerful about knowing that our students, especially our young women, are growing up seeing women lead, make decisions, and have a voice at the table. I hope our leadership serves as a reminder that there is no limit to where their own paths can take them.” -Stacy Marzullo, Schuylerville High School Principal
Katie Elsworth: Two decades of leadership at Schuylerville Middle School
Among Schuylerville’s three principals, Elsworth brings a unique perspective: two decades of experience within the district itself. Elsworth began her career as an English teacher in the Shenendehowa Central School District before moving into administration at Shenendehowa. In 2005, she joined Schuylerville as the district’s grades 7–12 assistant principal. When Schuylerville Middle School opened in 2012, Elsworth became part of a new chapter in the district’s history, transitioning into leadership of a school dedicated specifically to students in grades 6-8. Now in her 21st year in administration, Elsworth has spent 20 of those years at Schuylerville. Her tenure has allowed her to work with generations of Schuylerville students and families while also experiencing firsthand the district’s growth and evolution.
“In 2012, when I became the Schuylerville Middle School principal, I will never forget the moment a fifth-grade student said to me, ‘Wow, I’ve never had a girl principal before!’ I saw the impact that realization had on her. Strong female leadership helps our girls see the potential of their own futures. Being a teacher at heart, I love being the senior member of our administrative team and having the opportunity to share my experiences. It’s extremely rewarding to help other principals grow and, in the process, learn how to become a better school leader myself. The camaraderie and support we provide one another benefits all of our students and staff, and I look forward to continuing to deepen our personal and professional relationships.” -Katie Elsworth, Schuylerville Middle School Principal
Marissa Macey: A foundation in elementary education
Macey joined Schuylerville this year as elementary school principal, but her professional career has deep roots in the surrounding area. Before coming to Schuylerville, Macey served as principal of Kensington Road School in the Glens Falls City School District. She was selected for the Schuylerville position following a comprehensive search process in which a 15-member committee interviewed eight candidates and unanimously recommended her as the sole finalist for Board of Education consideration. Prior to becoming principal at Kensington Road School, Macey served as assistant principal at Sanford Street Elementary through WSWHE BOCES. Before entering administration, Macey spent nine years as an elementary classroom teacher in the South Glens Falls Central School District. She taught multiple grade levels and served as a district-wide instructional teacher leader, mentoring colleagues, providing professional development in foundational literacy strategies and piloting curriculum approaches that were ultimately adopted across the district. She began her career as a third-grade teacher in the Minerva Central School District.
“Joining the Schuylerville CSD leadership team in July has been a truly remarkable experience. The level of collaboration, support, and shared dedication makes us feel like a seamless unit. On a personal level, it means everything to know that my daughters get to watch this journey firsthand and see what women can accomplish when they lead together.” -Marissa Macey, Schuylerville Elementary School Principal
While their professional experiences differ, Marzullo, Elsworth and Macey now share responsibility for leading Schuylerville students through each stage of their K–12 experience.
“The composition of the female principal leadership team provides students with the opportunity to see women occupying leadership roles throughout their entire educational experience,” said Board of Education President, Katie Brunson. “That representation matters because it allows our students to see firsthand that leadership opportunities are open to them and that their own goals and aspirations have no limits.”
“When our students walk into our schools, they see women making decisions, leading organizations, managing departments, solving problems, and shaping the future of our district,” added Superintendent Dr. Ryan Sherman. “That sends a powerful message: leadership is not something that belongs to someone else. It is something they can pursue for themselves.”