As classes resume in September, students and staff will notice several new administrators —some permanent, some interim — running the Onteora Central School District. Interim Superintendent Marystephanie Corsones took over in May for then-Superintendent Victoria McLaren, who left the district after 16 years to become assistant superintendent for business in Highland. Corsones is no stranger to Onteora, having been assistant superintendent for business before taking positions in the Kingston school district. She will remain until a search for a permanent superintendent is completed and the school board chooses a replacement.
In July, the board appointed Stephanie Laffin as assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction to replace Jodi DeLucia. Amanda Allison was appointed to replace Cindy Bishop, who retired and is now a school board trustee. Laffin joins the district after more than seven years at Ulster BOCES, where she helped districts integrate state standards for English Language Arts, Math, Social Studies and Science into curriculums. She has18 years of experience as a high school English teacher. “As I begin my new role here in Onteora, I am truly honored and excited to work with such a talented faculty and staff,” Laffin said in a statement released by the district.
Allison began her career as a school social worker in Columbia and Putnam counties. She is a certified behavior analyst and has a lot of experience with autistic students. Allison was a special education administrator for the Carmel school district. Before coming to Onteora, she was a principal and assistant principal for Southern Westchester BOCES K-12 special education programs. “I am looking forward to continuing to grow and foster the feeling of inclusion at Onteora,” she said in a district statement.
Dr. Donald Gottlieb was appointed in April as interim assistant superintendent for business to replace Monica LaClair and will remain until a permanent replacement is found. “Dr. Gottlieb has been with the district before as our interim assistant superintendent for business,” then-board president Laurie Osmond said at the time of his appointment. “He is well-loved and well-versed in the finances of the district and also has a great working relationship with our Interim Superintendent Ms. Corsones.”
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