Brian Bailey moving from assistant principal at Guilderland High
Students attending the Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk High School will have a new principal when they return to school next fall.
The RCS School District Board of Education has chosen Brian Bailey to step in as the new principal, effective Aug. 20. Bailey has been assistant principal at Guilderland High School for the past six years.
In fact, excepting a single year at Schalmont, Bailey has spent the past 18 years in Guilderland schools.
It’s like family. It’s just like leaving home for the first time, he said of the move. `It’s exciting and it’s daunting, because I bring with me all of those things that I’ve learned. … I’m going to a new place where they have their own experience and their own way, and I’m excited to learn that.`
Bailey has his roots in music education, starting out as a choral teacher. Both his parents were teachers.
`Growing up, music was something I always excelled at,` he said. `I went off to college, and there didn’t seem any better way to enjoy my art form and be able to share that with other people.`
He said he also made the crossover to administration with the goal of helping people learn.
`Being an administrator is teaching with adults. … We’re all trying to grow and get better at what we do,` he said.
`The principal interview committee recognized Brian’s skills and talents,` said RCS Schools Superintendent Daniel A. Teplesky in a statement. `He will be a great asset to our administrative team, and we look forward to welcoming him to the district as we continue our planning for the new school year.`
Bailey said he’s most looking forward to working in a smaller school community. RCS High School has about 650 students enrolled compared to Guilderland’s more than 1,900.
`I like very much the idea I can have the potential to have a relationships with every student, with every staff member,` Bailey. `I think there’s a lot more personable quality to working in a school of that size.`
The district has had relatively high turnover in this position. The current principal of the high school, Brett Miller, headed the school for just two years.
Bailey said his goal will be to hold the job for the long term.
`I want to be there, and I’m dedicated to doing that,` he said. `Growing up around here, having family members that live in the district …I ‘ve had ties with Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk and Albany and Greene counties for a long, long time.`
Bailey’s pursuing his doctorate at The Sage Colleges. Bailey resides in Voorheesville, has two teenage sons and is engaged to Kate Deane.“
