Fourth Street School Welcomes Erin Simmons As Its Principal

FULTON –  A passion for working with challenging youth has led Erin Simmons to her most rewarding professional position yet: principal of Fourth Street School in Fulton.

She realized the importance of the work around at-risk youth when she worked with a group of those children while she was in college studying for her bachelor’s degree in psychology.

Her connection with that kind of work led Simmons to obtaining her master’s degree in school counseling from SUNY Oswego, where she then pursued a Certificate of Advanced Study in mental health and another CAS in administrative leadership.

“I knew I could impact a broader group of students in a school community through administration,” she said.

Simmons was a counselor for four years before she was a behavior specialist through OCM BOCES for three years.

In April, Simmons was hired by the Center for Instruction, Technology and Innovation as a behavior specialist at the Exceptional Education programming at an elementary school in Phoenix.

After her summer school principal position at Fourth Street School she was offered the permanent principal post.

Simmons oversees about 40 students in both the Stepping Stones Day Program, which services children in grades two through 12 for the 2017-18 school year, as well as CiTi’s 12:1:1 work study program.

She said she has a lot of love for the Fourth Street School student population, of which many students have a mental health diagnosis and need a more understanding environment to help them and their families work through behavior health struggles.

It is her goal throughout the school year to work toward improving the climate and culture of the entire building.

She even created a school culture team with the purpose to “strive to create and maintain an environment where students, family and staff members feel valued and successful.”

When not at work, Simmons said she is dedicated to her two-year-old son and her extended family.

She also has enjoyed reading, outdoor activities and in the summer she enjoys spending time on the water.

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