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"The College of New Rochelle is very fortunate to
have a wealth of
full-time and adjunct professors who bring to their graduate classrooms
their professional educational background, a wealth of practical
experience, and the personal knowledge gained from being actively
involved in classrooms everyday. It is a wonderful place to attend
graduate school and meet other students who will become your
professional colleagues for the rest of one’s career."
Dr. Walter
Sullivan
Associate Professor of Educational Leadership
Graduate School
The College of New Rochelle
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Dr. Sullivan, tell us a
little about your academic background.
My B.A. is in Classical
Literature--Latin and Greek—from The Catholic University of America in
Washington, D.C. My M.A. in Education is from Manhattan College here in
New York. I also have an M.A. in Psychology from Fordham University,
and a Ph.D. in Psychology from Fordham University.
I have been a Superintendent
of Schools for 26 years, and 22 of those years were in Skaneateles, New
York, where our schools received the Governor’s Award for Excellence
which recognizes those institutions (hospitals, schools, businesses)
for the highest level of competence and quality. I have also been a
high school and middle school principal, as well as, an Assistant
Professor and Coordinator of Secondary Education at the College of Mt.
St. Vincent.
What is your role here at
the College?
My position at CNR is
Associate Professor of Educational Leadership. I teach a seminar course
in administrative leadership, which includes visiting the schools where
my administrative interns work, and a Foundations in Education course
for students pursuing a masters in education.
I supervise interns who
are receiving their administrative experience in the schools. I also
work with schools in providing technical assistance where needed, and I
continue to do research in many areas of interest such as assessments
and quality review of schools. The students I supervise are in P.S. 195
in the South Bronx; Pleasantville High School; Peekskill City Schools;
Stepping Stones School; and Mt. Vernon High School, among other
schools. Here at the College I work with my
colleagues as we continue to keep our program flexible and
current.
What are Educational Leadership programs?
The programs in educational
leadership at CNR prepare school personnel to function as lead
teachers, educational consultants, mentors, staff development
specialists, department chairpersons, athletic directors, assistant
principals, principals, pupil personnel directors, assistant
superintendents, and superintendents.
Dr. Sullivan, what are the
leadership programs offered by the College?
There are a variety of
leadership programs depending upon previous experience. For example:
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There is a Certificate of Advanced Study in Staff
Development for individuals who possess a masters, training them to
work as building principals, consultants, and mentors.
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There is a Professional Diploma in School District
Leadership, for students with a masters degree. This program provides
training and certification in order to work as a superintendent,
assistant superintendent, or district level administrator. It is for
exceptionally qualified individuals who have
a masters, and some comparable administrative experience.
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There is a also a Masters Degree Program in
Educational Leadership leading to building level certification for
assistant principals, principals, and other building-level positions
for those who do not have a previous masters.
Based on your experience,
what do you think makes for a good teacher and a good school
administrator?
High quality teaching, like good administration,
involves a number of variables: most of all great interpersonal skills
(teaching is in truth a relationship), knowledge of content area, and
solid instructional techniques. Good administrators also have high
expectations for students and staff, great visibility, ethics, energy,
and above all else, always make decisions based primarily on the needs
of the students.
What do you think makes
our Graduate School so attractive to students?
The
Graduate School here at The College of New Rochelle is attractive for a
number of reasons. There is a great deal of personal interaction with
the students, and we have a superb faculty that is extraordinary
knowledgeable and genuinely interested in all of the graduate students.
They have so much to offer graduate students.
Tell us something about
the range of full-time and adjunct faculty currently teaching at The
College of New Rochelle?
In terms of the full time
faculty in Educational Leadership there is Dr. Dan Breshnahan, Dr.
Connie Iervolino, and myself. We all have had significant experience,
serving in a range of administrative positions including Superintendent
of Schools, Assistant Superintendent, and Building Principal. All have
doctorates and are well-versed in current educational issues.
We also have adjunct professors who teach educational leadership
courses, often in teacher centers off-campus. One example of our
adjunct professors is Dr. Ron Valenti, Superintendent of Blind Brook
Rye. Dr. Valenti has been an adjunct at CNR for many years.
Finally I might add, The College of New Rochelle is very fortunate to
have a wealth of full-time and adjunct professors who bring to their
graduate classrooms their professional educational background, a wealth
of practical experience, and the personal knowledge gained from being
actively involved in classrooms everyday. It is a wonderful place to
attend graduate school and meet other students who will become your
professional colleagues for the rest of one’s career.
More CNR
Faculty/Staff Q & A:
