Let's Learn Together

This past fall, Superintendent Jeff Simons announced he would be retiring at the end of this school year. It marks the end of nine years leading the East Greenbush Central School District and 33 years in education.

On this episode, our Public Information Specialist Mark Adam has a conversation with Mr. Simons about his time in East Greenbush, the many accomplishments our district has achieved under his leadership, some of the obstacles we faced and overcame together, and what he hopes for our district moving forward.

Also, students tell us about their favorite moments from this school year, the staff profile features School Social Worker Kayla Sweet, and we hear reflections from teachers and staff who are retiring at the end of this school year.

(1:22) – A Conversation with Superintendent Jeff Simons
(27:53) – Students Tell Us About Their Favorite Moments from This School Year
(29:09) – Staff Profile of School Social Worker Kayla Sweet
(34:06) – Reflections from Retiring Teachers and Staff
(45:31) – Upcoming Events

Special thanks to our guest host Meadow Wisenburn ’25! 

Let’s Learn Together is available on Apple, Spotify, YouTube Music and other apps.

Earlier this spring, New York State approved a cell phone ban for all K-12 public schools. The cell phone ban would prohibit student use of internet-enabled devices - including smartphones, tablets and smartwatches - from the start to the end of the school day. 

All school districts are required to create and publish their own cell phone policies by August 1st, 2025 and then implement those policies for the 2025-26 school year.

On today’s episode, Superintendent Jeff Simons discusses the East Greenbush Central School District’s cell phone policy with members of the school’s Cell Phone Committee - Columbia Principal Mike Harkin, Social Studies Teacher and EGTA Vice President Dan Wagner, and Columbia students Manya Madan '25, Nate Garrigan '26, Mariam Conteh '27 and Maddy Marra '28.

They provide important information about the new state law, the research done by the Cell Phone Committee this school year, and what the district's policy will look like starting in September.

Also, students share what makes East Greenbush the Best School District in the Capital Region, the staff profile features School Bus Driver Kelly Kendrick and we feature the Goff Garden Club in the Student Activity Spotlight.

(1:27) – New Cell Phone Policy
(28:50) – Students Share What Makes East Greenbush the Best School District in the Capital Region
(30:03) – Staff Profile of School Bus Driver Kelly Kendrick
(32:18) – Student Activity Spotlight with the Goff Garden Club
(34:20) – Upcoming Events

Special thanks to our guest host Anna Nassivera '25! 

Let’s Learn Together is available on Apple, Spotify, YouTube Music and other apps.

The East Greenbush Central School District has developed a proposed budget for the 2025-26 school year totaling $115,153,000. The budget would maintain all current regular school year programs including:

• Pre-K and Early Childhood Support
• Mental Health Services
• College Credit and AP courses
• Career and Technical Education Classes
• Athletics, Clubs and Extracurricular activities

On today’s episode, Superintendent Jeff Simons and Director of Business and Finance Jennifer Mulligan discuss the proposed budget, what's on the ballot, and how residents can vote.

Also, students tell us where they would go if they could travel anywhere in the world, the staff profile features School Resource Officer Ed Ashley and we feature the Mock Trial Team in the Student Activity Spotlight.

(1:15) – School Budget Vote and What's On the Ballot
(8:20) - Fund Balance
(11:11) - Community Support
(13:51) - NYS Tax Cap
(18:09) - Reassessment in the Town of East Greenbush
(20:44) - School Bus Purchases
(24:44) - Bus Purchase Reserve Fund
(26:05) - Board of Education Election
(29:02) - Final Thoughts on the School Budget
(32:40) – Students Tell Us Where They Would Travel
(34:17) – Staff Profile of School Resource Officer Ed Ashley
(39:12) – Student Activity Spotlight with the Mock Trial Team
(42:40) – Upcoming Events

Special thanks to our guest host Hannah Ortiz '26! 

Let’s Learn Together is available on Apple, Spotify, YouTube Music and other apps.

Now more than ever, Columbia High School students have choice in what to learn. They can choose from a list of available electives, they can take college courses, and they can enroll in career and technical education programs through Questar III BOCES. One of those exciting programs offered by Questar is New Visions Pathways in Education where high school students prepare to become teachers.

On today’s episode, Superintendent Jeff Simons discusses the New Visions Pathways in Education Program with Teacher Jenifer Kish, and Columbia High School seniors Elle Hutton '25 and Gabriella Fisher '25, who are enrolled in the program. They discuss Pathways in Education and how students learn to become our educators of the future through coursework and hands-on experience in school settings.

Also, students share how they can protect the planet, the staff profile features Green Meadow typist Marcelle Gadreault, and we highlight the DPS Coding Club in the Student Activity Spotlight.

(1:30) – Training Our Future Teachers
(18:48) – Students Share How They Can Protect the Planet
(20:02) – Staff Profile of Green Meadow Typist Marcelle Gadreault
(21:48) – Student Activity Spotlight with the DPS Coding Club
(22:33) – Upcoming Events

Special thanks to our guest host Brayden Gipson ’25! 

Let’s Learn Together is available on Apple, Spotify, YouTube Music and other apps.

Recess is one of the best parts of the school day for elementary students. It’s an opportunity to run, play and have fun. And while exercise and burning off energy is important, students are also developing lifelong skills, like how to make new friends, how to take turns, and how to resolve conflict.

On today’s episode, our Public Information Specialist Mark Adam discusses recess with Genet Principal Wayne Grignon, Occupational Therapist Denise Lyle, and Monitor Karen LaFrank. They discuss recess in the East Greenbush Central School District and how important it is for the development of our students.

Also, students share what they like about spring, the staff profile features PPS Director Jessica Harris, and we feature Green Meadow Enrichment in the Student Activity Spotlight.

(1:20) – Recess
(24:58) – Students Share What They Like About Spring
(26:00) – Staff Profile of Pupil Personnel Services Director Jessica Harris
(29:13) – Student Activity Spotlight with Green Meadow Enrichment
(30:11) – Upcoming Events

Special thanks to our guest host Maya Derico ’25! 

Let’s Learn Together is available on Apple, Spotify, YouTube Music and other apps.

Now more than ever, schools are utilizing data to enhance instruction and improve learning for students. This is done by giving students in grades Pre-K through 8 a universal screener three times a year, as well as using other measures. That data is used to diagnose how students are learning, what skills they have, and what skills need more work. It informs how our teachers teach so every student gets what they need to be successful.

On this episode, we discuss data-driven instruction with Principal Helen Squillace, First Grade Teacher Val Santillo, and MTSS Coordinator Lisa Mahar. They discuss how the universal screener is administered in classrooms across our district, how data reports are used to inform instruction, and the positive impact it has on students.

(1:22) – Data-Driven Instruction
(27:42) – Students Share Their Favorite Books
(28:38) – Staff Profile of Green Meadow 2nd Grade Teacher Becky Cook
(31:47) – Student Activity Spotlight with the Columbia Art Club
(34:04) – Upcoming Events

Let’s Learn Together is available on Apple, Spotify, YouTube Music and other apps.

Special thanks to our guest host Jabari Holder '25! 

Students love snow days. It's a surprise day off and an opportunity to sleep in and play outside in the snow. But who decides on whether we have school or we need to close for the day because of the weather? And how do they make that decision?

On today’s episode, our Public Information Specialist Mark Adam discusses snow days with Superintendent Jeff Simons, Transportation Administrator Dr. Wanda McQueen, and Head of Grounds Frank Asenbauer. They discuss the process for evaluating winter weather, the timeline for calling snow days or delays, and how information is shared with teachers, staff and families. They also share whether their jobs have impacted how they feel about the winter.

Also, students share their favorite snow day activities, the staff profile features Special Education Teacher Abigail Kissane, and we feature Red Mill Intramurals in the Student Activity Spotlight.

(1:20) – Snow Days
(29:40) – Students Share Their Favorite Snow Day Activities
(31:04) – Staff Profile of Special Education Teacher Abigail Kissane
(33:14) – Student Activity Spotlight with Red Mill Intramurals
(34:22) – Upcoming Events

Let’s Learn Together is available on Apple, Spotify, YouTube Music and other apps.

Special thanks to our guest host Jayla Dudley '26!

Mathematics is one of the fundamental subjects we teach to students, known as one of the three R’s in reading, writing and arithmetic. From the time students enter pre-k or kindergarten and they are learning how to count, all the way up to high school when they learn algebra and statistics, the East Greenbush Central School District has a rich curriculum that covers everything students need to know in math.

Math is a subject that can be challenging for some, but through the amazing work of our teachers and support services offered by our schools, we can set students up for success.

On today’s episode, Superintendent Jeff Simons discusses math instruction with teachers Brittany Harrison from Red Mill, Christine Blake from Goff, and Frank DiDonato from Columbia. We discuss the math curriculum and improvements we have made over the years, the requirements for graduation, and how our teachers make math fun and engaging.

Also, students celebrate Valentine's Day by sharing what they love, the staff profile features School Bus Aide Kaitlyn Roy, and we feature Odyssey of the Mind in the Student Activity Spotlight.

(1:23) – Pre-K Registration and Best Wishes to Winter Athletes
(2:04) – Math Instruction
(29:51) – Students Share What They Love
(31:05) – School Bus Aide Kaitlyn Roy
(32:41) – Student Activity Spotlight with Odyssey of the Mind
(33:59) – Upcoming Events

Let’s Learn Together is available on Apple, Spotify, YouTube Music and other apps.

Every parent has comforted their child and tried to help them feel better when the child is sick or hurt - whether it’s a cold, a stomach bug, or they tripped and skinned their knee. When students are at school, that responsibility is met by our wonderful school nurses.

On today’s episode, our Public Information Specialist Mark Adam has a conversation with two of our school nurses - Julie Stoffels from Columbia High School and Sarah Tacy from Donald P. Sutherland Elementary School. They discuss the duties of a school nurse, how they care for students, and what families can do to prevent illness during cold and flu season.

Also, students tell jokes, the staff profile features Goff School Counselor Sharon Dunn, and we feature Columbia Book Club in the Student Activity Spotlight.

(1:12) – Cell Phone Committee Update
(3:43) – Health Services
(28:01) – Students Tell Jokes
(29:10) – Goff School Counselor Sharon Dunn
(31:36) – Student Activity Spotlight with Columbia Book Club
(33:53) – Upcoming Events

Let’s Learn Together is available on Apple, Spotify, YouTube Music and other apps.

The popular community event Winterfest will be returning to Howard L. Goff Middle School in East Greenbush on Saturday, January 18. A full day of family friendly events have been planned including a pancake breakfast in the cafeteria, bounce houses in the gym, craft vendors, and much more!

On this episode, we preview the 35th annual Winterfest with Angel Schweigert, president of the East Greenbush Education Foundation, the nonprofit that coordinates this special event. We discuss the schedule of activities and highlight some of the other important ways the Education Foundation supports our school district.

Also, students share their favorite winter activities, the staff profile features Columbia Speech Language Pathologist Kate Morrow, and we feature Ski Club in the Student Activity Spotlight.

(1:18) – School Budget Planning
(2:20) – Winterfest Preview
(14:59) – Students Share Their Favorite Winter Activities
(15:51) – Staff Profile of Speech Language Pathologist Kate Morrow
(18:35) – Student Activity Spotlight with Ski Club
(19:47) – Upcoming Events

Let’s Learn Together is available on Apple, Spotify, YouTube Music and other apps.