SANDY CREEK, NY – Bonnie Finnerty was recently named Sandy Creek Elementary School Principal. Finnerty replaces longtime Principal Sue Ann Archibee who retired at the close of the 2014-15 school year.
Finnerty is very familiar with Oswego County having grown up in, and graduated from, neighboring Pulaski High School.
She is a former health education and biology teacher and received her CAS in educational administration from SUNY Oswego.
She has also completed the New York Superintendent Development Program through SUNY Oswego and was recently the superintendent / k-12 principal in the Schroon Lake Central School District.
Prior to accepting the elementary principal position in Sandy Creek, she taught CAS educational leadership courses through SUNY Oswego in the Northern New York area.
“I chose to apply for the elementary principal position because of Sandy Creek’s fine reputation and because I had a desire to be back in a public school leadership position,” said Finnerty. “I have personally known several of the administrators and faculty/staff members at Sandy Creek and was delighted when I was invited to join their team.”
Finnerty joined Archibee in the last weeks of school to aid in transitioning to the principal position.
“Her years of experience and dedication as elementary principal were clearly evident and proved invaluable in aiding my transition into the position,” said Finnerty. “I am thankful that I was given the opportunity to spend several days with her and with her faculty and staff. It was an invaluable and pleasurable week of learning for me.”
Finnerty officially took over the reins as Principal on July 1.
Finnerty expects the first year in the position will be spent familiarizing herself with the building, community and district saying, “It is important to me to also get to know the students, their families, and the needs of the community as it is very clear that the school is an integral part of the Sandy Creek community.”
In addition, she anticipates hiring new staff as needed and working with teachers to better understand the APPR system and to provide them the guidance and resources they require to best meet the needs of the children in their classrooms.
“The greatest challenges I see facing our school for the upcoming year remain the same,” said Finnerty. “Each child is unique. Each child learns in his/her own way. Each child’s family circumstances are different.”
Ensuring each child gets what he or she needs to best optimize their own learning is what she sees as one of the greatest challenges she will face in the coming year.
“How we do that within the parameters that NYS sets continues to be a challenge,” she said. “One thing I have learned over the several years I have served in leadership is that teachers are creative. They are persistent and committed. I know that our teachers and support staff at Sandy Creek Elementary will rise above the daily challenges they face and continue to provide highly effective instruction and the loving, caring classroom experiences our children deserve.”
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