The Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk Board of Education on Monday, June 2, appointed longtime Capital District school administrator Dr. Michael Johnson as their interim superintendent.
Johnson will succeed current Superintendent Vicki Wright.
Johnson joins RCS with 32 years of experience in education, most recently serving as assistant interim superintendent of the Mohonasen school district. He is expected to start work in RCS July 1, said Board of Education President Mike Varney.
During his career, Johnson has served in many capacities, including that of elementary and middle school principal, high school assistant principal, counselor, teacher, assistant superintendent and superintendent. Among the local districts he has served are Averill Park, where he was superintendent, and Niskayuna, where is served as assistant superintendent.
Due to his knowledge and commitment to improving educational standards and, therefore, increasing student performance, he is a good choice to continue the progress the district has made in moving forward with educational initiatives and programs already in place, Varney said.
`I am absolutely thrilled to be able to serve the RCS school district for this coming year. I am going to give 110 percent to ensure the district operates as smoothly as possible,` Johnson said.
`The Board of Education believes that he is a strong, effective leader who is professional, knowledgeable and articulate. He is a good choice to continue to move the district in a forward direction,` Varney said.
He will earn $550 a day as interim, which Varney said is the going rate for an experienced professional. He will also apply for a waiver to allow him to serve RCS and collect his pension.
`Experienced superintendents are in short supply in New York and a non-retired superintendent will not come to work in any school district for only a year,` said the board president.
Johnson is scheduled to meet with various personnel and community members during the month of June. “