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Van Corlaer
Elementary School
April 28 2010
Schenectady
principal named Capital Region Principal of the Year
 Michelle
Van DerLinden, principal of Van Corlaer Elementary School in
Schenectady has been named 2010 Principal of the Year by the
Greater Capital Region Principals' Center. The award recognizes
outstanding principals in the region for dedicated service to
students. Van DerLinden will be honored at the Capital Area
School Development Association (CASDA) dinner tonight, 6 p.m. at
the Holiday Inn on Wolf Rd.
"It was an honor to be nominated," said Van DerLinden. "I am
thrilled to have won. It also means that I am very fortunate to
have a wonderful team at Van Corlaer - the staff, students,
families."
Van DerLinden has been principal of Van Corlaer Elementary
School for the last six years. She has been working in the
district since 1988, first serving as a remedial math teacher
for three district schools and then an elementary school teacher
at Lincoln for 11 years. Before becoming principal, Van
DerLinden also served as a literacy specialist at Pleasant
Valley, a post she held for almost two years, and then the
coordinator of Early Childhood, English as a Second Language,
Gifted and Talented and the Even Start program.
"I
love the kids," said Van DerLinden. "They are the best part of
the job." She also raved about Van Corlaer and said the staff
works well together to figure out how to reach every child.
"It's like a puzzle and we all work hard to match the pieces,"
she said.
Eric Ely, superintendent of Schenectady Schools, agrees that Van
DerLinden is deserving of the prestigious award. "Michelle is
an energetic, innovative and creative instructional leader,"
said Ely. "She is extremely visible in her school community and
has developed great relationships with the students, staff and
parents."
Ely pointed to Van Corlaer's 2008-2009 standardized test
scores. "Her school has shown the best success of all the
elementary schools in the district," added Ely.
Jeffery McLellan, executive director of CASDA, wrote to Van
DerLinen, "All of the principals nominated had outstanding
qualities, but you clearly exemplify those characteristics upon
which the award is based: vision, improvement in
curriculum/instruction and student achievement, leadership in
professional development, use of multiple sources of data in
decision-making processes, and engagement of the community."
Van DerLinden said she is flattered but was also sure to credit
her colleagues. "I am fortunate to work closely with such a
talented assortment of elementary principals," said Van
DerLinden. "Together we make a difference in each of our
schools."
Van DerLinden shares the honor with Fran Reinl, principal of
Glencliff Elementary School in Niskayuna. Both will be honored
at the dinner.
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