O’Neill High School Principal Debbie Brand was honored with the New York State Council of School Superintendents’ Raymond R. Delaney Memorial Scholarship earlier this month.
Brand travelled to Saratoga to accept the award at the group’s Fall Leadership event. She was nominated by Highland Falls-Fort Montgomery Central School District Superintendent Dr. Frank Sheboy.
The award is in recognition of Brand’s “professional and academic credentials and the desire to serve in the field of educational leadership,” those presenting the award said. It went to Brand “because of her intellectual curiosity and the way she approaches learning and teaching”, as well as her “compassionate and supportive leadership style”.
In his nomination letter, Sheboy wrote about the challenge Brand faced, just six months into her new role as JIO principal, when popular teacher Christopher Page was killed in a car accident. He also wrote about how she has been “instrumental in revisioning the academic programs” at the high school, including adding more course offerings, such as American Sign Language.
“I believe Ms. Brand is a decisive leader dedicated to improving opportunities for all students at O’Neill,” Sheboy said this week.
Brand has worked as a teacher, coach and administrator for 23 years, and is currently working on her doctorate degree.
At the ceremony she said it was an honor to even be nominated, but even more rewarding to be selected.
“I’ve been fortunate enough to work for inspirational people all through my career,” she said, and added that she hopes to use her education to inspire another generation of educators.
