Staff Spotlight: Meet Student Support Liaison Will Ryan

Join us in shining a spotlight on Fort Plain Jr./Sr. High School Teacher and new Student Support Liaison, Will Ryan.

“The Fort Plain Central School District is proud to recognize Will Ryan’s many years of dedication as a teacher, mentor and advocate for our teaching team,” said Interim Superintendent Dr. Karen Geelan. “Will is known for the meaningful connections he builds and the impact he’s had with the students in his classroom. We are grateful to have him in this new role, where he will be able to continue this important work on a larger scale—throughout the school and with our many students.”

For more than 25 years, Will Ryan has been an active member of our school community: teaching social studies and University in the High School (UHS) psychology and sociology courses through UAlbany, serving as director for 14 years of the FP-Canjo Drama Club and its spring musical, and leading the Fort Plain Teachers Association as president for seven years.

Through it all, Ryan says he’s had the opportunity to grow as an educator while forming strong, lasting connections with students, their families (some of whom were once his students themselves!) and his colleagues.

This school year, Ryan has taken on a new role as Student Support Liaison at the Jr./Sr. High School—a position for which he feels his years of experience as a teacher and community volunteer have uniquely prepared him.

Building Bridges and Creating Connections

As Student Support Liaison, Ryan focuses on building trusting relationships with all students—in the halls, the lunchroom and the classroom—but especially with those who may feel disconnected or need extra support.

He emphasizes the importance of curiosity and compassion in understanding students: shifting the question from “What’s wrong with you?” when they misstep to “What’s going on for you?”

While part of his role involves assisting administrators with disciplinary procedures, Ryan knows that being a trusted adult—someone students know believes in them—can make all the difference during challenging times.

This summer, Ryan completed training in restorative practices, an approach that emphasizes accountability and helps students repair relationships with peers and staff when harm has been caused. He uses these strategies with his own students and is helping model them for teachers and staff across the school.

“The biggest thing I’ve learned as a teacher—and in life—is that how we treat others matters,” said Ryan, “We always have a choice in how we react to a situation or setback. Sometimes these are skills we already know; other times, we need someone to teach us. I hope I can help both our students and our school team learn and practice those skills together.”