Carol Pallas isn’t sitting behind her new desk as Schalmont’s superintendent yet, but she’s already visited the district several times to establish relationships.
The Schalmont Board of Education selected Pallas, chief academic officer at Greece Central School District in Rochester, after a six-month search for a new superintendent to Valerie Kelsey when she retires at the end of the year. Board members unanimously appointed Pallas in November, and she signed a three-year contract with a starting salary of $157,500.
“I have been working already with the current superintendent on transitioning into the role and we have a nice working relationship,” Pallas said. “I have also been connecting and talking with the Board of Education.”
Board of Education President Sandra Beloncik said Pallas is already settling into her role, and has “an energy in her that just wants to burst.”
“She already has boxes in Dr. Kelsey’s office,” Beloncik said. “She just is overwhelmed and overjoyed to be here … she is very excited about the community.”
Schalmont is a much smaller district than Greece, with about 11,500 student enrolled to Schalmont’s 1,900. Greece, the ninth largest district in the state, has 17 schools compared to Schalmont’s three.
Pallas said while she has enjoyed working in a larger district, she is looking forward to working at a smaller one. She said building relationships with students and the community can be done “on a more regular basis” at Schalmont.
Pallas has 25 years in education and started as an elementary school teacher in the Rome City School District. Then she became principal of Mexico Elementary School before traveling to Greece and continuing her administration career. She earned a doctoral degree in educational leadership last year from the Warner School at the University of Rochester.
“What I think I can bring is that experience in really every level of the organization,” Pallas said. “All of my past experiences and education have prepared me well to move into the role of superintendent.”
Beloncik said Pallas also has experience closing a school, which allows Pallas to understand the difficult decision and process. At Greece, Pallas led the process of closing multiple schools. Schalmont closed two elementary schools in June 2011.
The community’s involvement in the schools, academic performance and extracurricular offerings were things that made Schalmont stand out, Pallas said.
“The community is very much a part of the school system and supports the school and wants the best for their students,” Pallas said. “It is a nice location and I think they are academically strong. They have a lot of offerings for children outside of academics.”
She said the district is in “good shape” and understands the community wants to sustain progress while continuing to improve. Coming in mid-school year, she would continue established goals for the year and work on developing a plan to move forward.
Many of the challenges Schalmont is facing, she said, are similar to other districts throughout the state. Staying within the tax cap will continue being a focus alongside implementing the new teacher evaluations.
Pallas will have some big shoes to fill too, with Kelsey leading the district for eight years.
“The district can’t thank Dr. Kelsey enough for all she has done. She has really brought the district forward,” Beloncik said.