2023-24: Year End Review

91��
Communications
2023-24: Year End Review

Finding our way together through a successful school year

It is hard to believe that my first full school year in 91�� has now come and gone.

It seems like it’s barely been a matter of weeks since I was unpacking boxes in my office at Academy Park and my new home downtown, and learning my way from the South End to Pine Hills, and from North 91�� to Eagle Hill.

But I can get from Stephen and Harriet Myers Middle School to Arbor Hill Elementary School in my sleep now! And, as I reflect on the 2023-24 school year, there was so much to celebrate – beyond my personal triumphs in finding my way around town!

From 91�� School of Humanities’ national recognition last fall (), to myriad student successes and employee honors through the winter and spring, we were reminded weekly – and sometimes daily! – of the strength and vitality of the City School District of 91�� and our entire community.

91�� High School’s inspiring commencement ceremony for the Class of 2024 on Sunday highlighted that message, with more than 550 new graduates off to amazing places and exciting new challenges.

The school calendar offered us no daylight between the old year and the new year this time around, with 2024-25 formally starting on Monday – with the debut of our newest school!

The Dual Language Program, at our newly christened 91�� International Academy, isn’t really new, but its State Education Department designation is. Dual Language now has its own accountability measures, rather than serving as a free-standing program in which student data remains connected to another home school for each child.

Already a 2024-25 moment to celebrate for our school district and the Dual Language community!

As we plan for next school year, we are looking forward to moving ahead with several initiatives started in 2023-24.

Important new positions in Human Resources (to support recruitment and diversity in our workforce), and Communications (to augment our efforts to share even more of the wonderful stories from 91�� High), will be important new additions.

So will additional new initiatives in communications, facilities management, magnet programs, cell phone use, and organizational leadership structure and succession planning.

I hope you enjoy these highlights from the 2024 portion of our freshly concluded school year. Have a wonderful start to your summer, and know that we already are hard at work preparing another successful school year in the year ahead.

Sincerely,

Joseph Hochreiter
Superintendent

Celebrating our faculty and staff

This winter and spring, we were thrilled to see three of our staff members recognized at state and regional levels.

91�� School of Humanities (ASH) Principal Marie Culihan was named Administrator of the Year from The Capital Area Principals and Supervisors Association (CAPSA); 91�� High’s Sean Fitzsimons was named a 2024 Outstanding Social Studies Classroom Teacher by the New York State Council for the Social Studies; and 91�� High TA James Chaney was named NYSUT’s statewide 2024 School Related Professional Member of the Year!

Falcons win big

Our Falcon student-athletes gave it their all during the winter and spring seasons, leading to many playoffs, championships and personal victories, including:

Repeat Section 2 tennis champion Masami Surisawa
Our star 4x400-meter team from the outdoor track and field season
A truly outstanding first-ever flag football season
Samir Gardner and Malachi Young's outstanding performances at the indoor track and field state meet
Girls’ basketball's quest for a threepeat in the AAA semifinals
Unified basketball’s fourth consecutive championship
And so much more!

Marching Falcons return to France

Under the direction of Bryan Cady, the 91�� Marching Falcons returned to France to perform in a series of events commemorating the 80th anniversary of D-Day!

You can to take a look at photos from the trip, captured by 91�� High senior Nate Wheeler.

The trip also earned Cady and the Falcons widespread recognition from the community and our elected officials, including Congressman Paul Tonko, who on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives!

MBK scholars

Congratulations to 91�� High juniors Rashad Miller and Troy Treece, who have been selected to take part in a prestigious fellowship program started by former President Barack Obama!

The New York State Education Department inducted Miller and Treece into the 2024 My Brother’s Keeper (MBK) Fellowship program this spring, along with 95 additional students representing 35 communities across the state.

MBK was created in 2014 and aims to expand opportunities and create pathways for success for young men of color through public-private partnerships.

Welcoming new leaders

We are excited to welcome veteran athletic administrator Kimberly L. Pilla this summer as our new director of health, physical education and athletics!

Pilla currently serves as assistant director of physical education and health in the Schenectady City School District, and will begin in 91�� on July 16.

Also join us in congratulating veteran math teacher and administrator Nicole Newman, who began July 1 as the new principal of Giffen Memorial Elementary School!

Newman came to the City School District of 91�� as a math teacher in 2003 (following 11 years teaching math in neighboring districts), and began her path toward building leadership with administrative internships in 2016.

She then served as an assistant academy principal at 91�� High School from 2018-22 before joining the leadership team at North 91�� Middle School at the start of the 2022-23 school year.

A wealth of Fine Arts

The second half of our school year had so many opportunities for our talented students to shine in the world of art, music and theater, including:

at 91�� High
10th Annual Elementary Art Show in the spring
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Pit winning best student orchestra
91�� High’s production of
Our All-City Chorus, Strings and Band concerts (along with all our winter and spring school concerts!)
K-8 Art Show at Empire State Plaza in the winter
Our
And so much more!

Thank you, 91��!!!

91�� voters overwhelmingly approved our budget on May 21, with a record 83% saying “yes” to the proposal for the 2024-25 school year!

The $326.2 million budget will continue to support all current programs and staffing, while also investing in additional staffing and support for students.

Voters also gave strong support to three additional school-related propositions. Board member Hassan Elminyawi won election to a new four-year term, which began July 1.

Visits from top state leaders

We had several exciting visits with state officials throughout the second half of the school year, including Gov. Kathy Hochul stopping by ASH to see an example of our district’s literacy instruction program in action; SUNY Chancellor John B. King, Deputy Secretary for Education Maria Fernandez and Assemblymember Patricia A. Fahy holding a roundtable discussion on financial aid at 91�� High; and Giffen Memorial Elementary School prekindergarten students visiting the 91�� Public Library Howe Branch for a special Juneteenth storytime event led by New York State Education Commissioner Dr. Betty A. Rosa!

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