administrator to start
November 15
A South Colonie administrator with a wealth of knowledge and experience in special education has been hired as the Special Education Division's first Deputy Director.
On October 18, the BOCES Board of Education hired Peter Taormina for the position. He has served for the past 15 years as the grade 9-12 Committee on Special Education (CSE) chairperson for the South Colonie School District. Additionally, he has worked as an administrator of a day-habilitation center that serves previously institutionalized adults with severe disabilities, and has taught and supervised in many different public and private special education settings, including those that serve children and teens with social and emotional difficulties.
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| Peter Taormina |
Taormina will join the Special Education Division staff on November 15.
The position of Deputy Director for Special Education was created and filled in response to a recommendation made as part of a comprehensive study of the division earlier this year. District Superintendent Charles Dedrick likens the new arrangement to that of a superintendent and assistant superintendent of a large school district.
"Our Special Education Division is as big as, if not bigger than, many of our component school districts, but its administrative structure was such that the person in charge [Division Director Inge Jacobs] was spending a large amount of time on day-to-day operations," said Dedrick. "This has made it difficult for her to focus on the larger issues that impact special education and ways of enhancing the stature and visibility of the Division, regionally and state-wide. From this perspective, it was logical that we would accept the consultants’ recommendation and hire a Deputy Director to handle the day-to-day operations, thus freeing Inge to work to promote the Division more successfully.”
As Deputy Director, Taormina will handle operations such as the student intake and discharge process, provide support to the Special Education principals, oversee the hiring and assignment of itinerant and related service staff, supervise the organization of the summer school program and respond to district requests for new programs, among other responsibilities.
"Peter's experience as a long time "customer" of our BOCES is a true asset that will benefit the Division and help inform the additional responsibilities he’ll take on as our new Deputy Director," Jacobs said.
