Tag: jr/sr high school
Welcome Nicholas Comproski—Fort Plain’s new Jr./Sr. High School Principal
Join us in welcoming Nicholas (Nick) P. Comproski, Fort Plain CSD’s new Jr./Sr. High School Principal.
Mr. Comproski will begin in this new role with our district on May 1, 2024. His appointment was approved by the Board of Education at its regular meeting March 13, 2024.
Mr. Comproski has had a distinguished career in education to-date, with an emphasis on middle and high school youth and education. He brings a wealth of experience to this position, which includes time spent as a social studies teacher and special educator. Mr. Comproski comes to Fort Plain having most recently served as Assistant Principal of the Van Corlaer Elementary School in the Schenectady City School District.
“Mr. Comproski was selected based on the input of many people in our school community around the qualities they most hoped for in a new school leader for the high school. This included our students, families, teachers, community members, our administration and board,” said Fort Plain Superintendent Lauren Crisman. “We are thrilled to be welcoming Nick to our Fort Plain team. The students and our school community are sure to benefit from his experience and thoughtful approach to education.”
“I am extremely excited and honored to be selected as the next principal of Fort Plain Jr./Sr. High School,” said Nick Comproski. “In the past, I have been a teacher and an administrator in very large school systems. I feel I can make a greater impact in a smaller environment such as Fort Plain.”
“Since my first interview for this position, I have felt the small town feel, the community connection and the warm embrace,” Comproski continued. “This district’s mission statement is one that connects with many of my own beliefs and feelings. I believe relationships are one of the keys to life and look to not only create strong bonds, but collaborate with others in the school community to grow them together.”
About Nicholas Comproski
Nick Comproski is a k-12 graduate of North Colonie Schools and alumnus of Siena College and The College of Saint Rose, where he earned advanced degrees in educational leadership. He is currently working toward completion of his doctorate in Educational Leadership at Russell Sage College.
Additionally, Mr. Comproski has served as an adjunct professor at the College of Saint Rose in its teacher preparation program.
Outside of school, Mr. Comproski is a long-time firefighter/EMT with the Maplewood Volunteer Fire Department in Colonie, N.Y., and has coached teams in various sports over the years.
Since 2021, Mr. Comprowski has also served as a member of the North Colonie CSD Board of Education.
New high school offering inspires “out of this world” learning
New this spring, the History of NASA elective at Fort Plain High School is offering students a chance to explore space right in the classroom.
Both students with a strong interest in space and space exploration as well as those who just want to learn more about a unique aspect of U.S. history have “gravitated” to this new class.
“This is something the kids had expressed a particular interest in learning more about,” explained High School History Teacher Bradley Niles, who designed and leads the class.“It is great to have the flexibility to create a course that taps into something they are so interested in.”
From the origins of the U.S. space program and the first manned landing on the Moon in 1969 to the creation and evolution of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), this course introduces students to the history, politics, science and innovation that have gone into and continue to influence space exploration.
Speakers inspire students to reach for the stars
Along with classroom lessons and projects that emphasize hands-on learning, problem solving, teamwork and reflection, students will benefit from learning and conversation with guest speakers with expertise on the topic of space and space exploration.
First up was a virtual visit from former Fort Plain High School Science Teacher Patrick Petty, who beamed in from Houston, TX on Feb. 5 to talk with the students about the work he now does with NASA as a Mission Support Specialist for its Human Exploration Research Analog (HERA) division.
Petty’s stories about his work at HERA ran the gamut from how to purchase supplies for multiple people for forty-five day missions to what it is like to simulate space exploration for test subjects.
“I think that Mr.Petty has a lot of passion for space and his career that he has pursued. I also think that what he is doing is really fascinating,” said senior Ian Zuppardi. “If I had the opportunity to do what he is doing I would take it.”
“It was phenomenal to have Mr. Petty volunteer his time to help bring space exploration to our classroom,” added Niles. “It is clear Mr. Petty both loves his job and has a ton of knowledge to share on the topic. Our conversation with him has given us more topics to explore this semester and avenues for future projects.”