At the most recent meeting of the Silver Creek Board of Education, Wendy Harrod was appointed as High School Principal for the 2024-25 school year. Harrod replaces Kyle Yelich, who submitted his resignation a month earlier. Harrod will begin July 1 with contract terms negotiated by Superintendent Dr. Katie Ralston.

“I could not be more excited. This is a fantastic place full of amazing humans,” Harrod said. “I’m excited to become a Black Knight.”

Born and raised three hours away in Elmira, Harrod first became a teacher in her home county before moving to Ithaca. Harrod spent two decades as a teacher in a small district before moving to Oswego County, where she worked as an Assistant Principal for the past three years.

Harrod began her time as an administrator during the pandemic, which she joked was because she “didn’t know any different.” Harrod’s husband is from Cleveland, Ohio, so Silver Creek is a nice midpoint between each of their hometowns.

Submitted Photo Sydney Neubauer was recently appointed as Assistant Principal of Silver Creek Elementary School. Neubauer, middle, is pictured with Superintendent Dr. Katie Ralston, left, and Elementary Principal Heather Krystofiak, right.

Ralston expressed the district is “fortunate” to have found Harrod, who demonstrated all of the traits the district was looking for through its “rigorous” interview process.

“You know right away if someone clicks with the culture and with the team, with our goals and who we are as Silver Creek,” Ralston said. “That was very clear from the first moment we met, and it resonated throughout the entire interview process.”

Harrod spent more than four hours at the district during the interview, interacting with Board of Education members, faculty and staff, and students throughout the day.

“The instant I walked through the door, this felt like the right place to be,” Harrod said. “… This is an incredible place where I want to come bring my expertise to help this district grow.”

Harrod is part of a new wave of administration joining Silver Creek next year under Superintendent Dr. Katie Ralston, who replaced Todd Crandall last year upon his retirement from the district. Also set to join the Black Knights family is Elementary Assistant Principal Sydney Neubauer, who was appointed last month.

Neubauer possesses Internship Certification as a Building Leader and Professional Certification in Social Studies Grades 7-12. Neubauer will begin employment in her role as Assistant Principal of Silver Creek Elementary School on July 1, on a probationary appointment with a starting salary for the 2024-25 school year of $80,000.

“We’re just really excited about the experience and the energy that she will bring,” Ralston said. “She’s eager to grow and eager to learn. She’s clearly going to contribute.”

Neubauer comes to Silver Creek from the Cuba-Rushford Central School District, just as Ralston did a year ago. As former colleagues, Ralston has firsthand experience witnessing the strengths Neubauer has as an educator. Neubauer’s work ethic and passion give Ralston confidence in her ability to take the next step in her career in her first administrative role.

“She has a work ethic that goes unmatched. She wants what’s best for whatever building she is in. She will do anything that she can to ensure that happens,” Ralston said of Neubauer. “She’s never going to put her name to something she’s not proud of. … She motivates people around her because of her own standard.”

Neubauer was appointed in late May, at the meeting between Yelich’s resignation and Harrod’s appointment. She replaces Shannon Matson, who is set to transition to a new role within the district as Director of Positive Interventions and Family Connectedness.

“I am honored and overjoyed to receive the position, and I can’t wait to get started,” Matson said.

Matson previously worked as an Elementary Teacher for 13 years at the District prior to her appointment as Assistant Principal for the past two school years. She possesses two Master’s Degrees, from both Buffalo State University and the University at Buffalo. Her new role is set to begin a four-year probationary period on July 1, with a salary for the 2024-25 school year of $90,000.

Matson will oversee Silver Creek’s Multi-tiered Systems of Support plans for academics and behaviors, through all grade levels of the district. With the guidelines for such systems evolving at the state level, Ralston said the district wanted to “make sure we do it right for our families and our community.”

The district previously established a Family Outreach and School Connectedness Committee through grant funding, which focused on the relationship between the district and the families of its students. Now that the grant funding has expired, the district is continuing its commitment to fostering those relationships through Matson’s position.

“This is an exciting new position for us, and I think there is no question Shannon is the right person for the position,” Ralston said.