Welcome to the 2021-2022 school year at Dr. Kenneth B. Clark Academy. I would like to announce, with great pleasure and pride, that I am the new Principal of such a remarkable school. For those of you who may already know me, I am referred to as Ms. Kelly, Dean Kelly, or simply, “The Dean”. As I enter my fourth year within the Greenburgh-North Castle School District in the capacity of Principal, I, along with the staff and students at KCA, have withstood many transformations, tests, and challenges throughout the last few years. Working and educating through a global pandemic has been the biggest challenge of all time, however, as a lifelong learner and optimist, I often reflect on what we have learned or gained from the pandemic.
We have learned that we can make it through anything. Our students and staff have remained resilient, strong, and encouraged.
We have learned to “roll with the changes”. We modified our teaching approach to a “virtual educational environment” by learning new online platforms, applications, and technologies. As we proceed into a post-pandemic environment, we continue to utilize the technologies we have adapted to that we have found to be beneficial for our students.
We have learned that everyone is affected in some way by these unprecedented times. We have heightened our Social Emotional support and will continue to do so as we transform into a fully “live” environment with excited students filling our classrooms and hallways. And most importantly, we have learned that life is short and we must not take it for granted. We must be mindful, live in the moment but look toward the future, and reach for our goals. I often have long conversions with our students about where they are now and where they would like to be after they transition from our school. When I first started working at KCA, I wanted to grow professionally and one day become Principal of the school. I stayed focused, I persevered, and took advice and feedback, and used it to grow and develop. This will now become part of that conversation I have with our students. The story has changed for me, and it can for them as well. I set a goal for myself, achieved it; and they can too.
I am honored to be your Principal, and I am looking forward to an amazing school year. We will remember the past as an opportunity to learn, but it will not define us. We will meet our goals this year. We will be confident--- because “you can, you should, and if you are brave enough to start, YOU WILL”.
Here’s to 2021-2022!
Ms. Amy Kelly