By Erin Holton
The Highland Central School District held its annual reorganization meeting on July 1, reappointing Board of Education President Alan Barone and selecting Jeanine Gemmel as vice president for the 2025-2026 school year.
Barone was the sole nominee for board president and was reappointed without opposition. He thanked his fellow board members for their continued support.
“I want to thank the entire board for the support you’ve given me over the past year, and hopefully we can continue what we’ve been doing for many years — to strive to give the Central School District students the best education possible,” Barone said.
Barone has served on the board for six years and is a longtime district parent, with three children who have graduated from Highland schools. He has consistently advocated for academic excellence in the district.
The race for vice president saw two nominees, Gemmel and Thomas Miller. Gemmel was appointed in a 4-3 vote and was sworn in during the meeting, receiving applause from attendees.
Gemmel, a lifelong Highland resident and 2022 appointee to the board, emphasized her commitment to the community when she announced her re-election bid earlier this year.
“I have no other agenda than to ensure that this community continues to thrive and is supported — from an academic standpoint to extracurricular and co-communal activities and engagements to the fiscal responsibility that is tied to serving on the Board of Education,” she said.
Also during the meeting, Superintendent Joel Freer took his annual oath of office. The board approved several district officers for the new school year, including:
•Lisa M. Cerniglia as District Clerk
•Tera VanAmburgh as District Treasurer
•Christina Markey as School Tax Collector
•Michelle McGrath as Internal Claims Auditor
•Sandra LoweMarx as Deputy Treasurer and Deputy Claims Auditor
Administrative Appointments
The district also announced several key administrative changes:
Dr. Patrick Boyd was appointed assistant superintendent, succeeding William Zimmer, who retired in June. Boyd previously served as assistant superintendent of human resources and pupil personnel services. He began his career in Highland in 2009 as a special education teacher at Highland Elementary School and has led recruitment efforts and implemented new hiring practices across the district.
Boyd holds degrees from Marist College and Mercy College and earned his doctorate in instructional leadership from the American College of Education in 2021.
“I am deeply honored to continue serving the Highland community in this new capacity,” Boyd said. “We have an incredibly dedicated team here, and I look forward to working collaboratively to support our staff, empower our students, and strengthen our programs.”
Sarah Hathaway was appointed director of pupil personnel services. She previously served as assistant principal at Highland Middle School and will assume many of the responsibilities Boyd held in his prior role.
Hathaway joined the district in 2020 as a special education reading specialist. She later served as an administrator intern at the elementary level, helped launch the district’s first Universal Pre-Kindergarten program, chaired the Committee on Preschool Special Education, and served as interim and then official assistant principal at the middle school.
“I’m so grateful for the opportunity to continue growing as a leader in a district that shares my passion for student-centered learning and inclusion,” Hathaway said. “I’m excited to step into this new role and help ensure that all Highland students receive the support they need to thrive.”