MILLBROOK — Laura Mitchell has been appointed superintendent of schools by the Millbrook Central School District (MCSD) Board of Education (BOE) and BOE President Perry Hartswick effective July 1, 2020.
Announcing the appointment, the board released a statement that it was “delighted” to do so, as Mitchell has been interim superintendent for the past five months, serving at a difficult time while a search was ongoing for a permanent superintendent.
“During that time she has led our district through some of the greatest challenges the district has faced in recorded history, including the impacts from COVID-19,” stated the board. “Her leadership, positive attitude and experience have made it clear that our permanent superintendent has been here all along.”
Mitchell, who during the interim period executed a tour of the district, which she called a “Listening and Learning” tour, got to know the district and the people in it. She has practiced an open-door policy for staff and students alike, and has attended many events in the district to get better acquainted with the area and its residents.
When asked to comment on her appointment, she said, “I am thrilled and honored to continue to be part of such a wonderfully caring community that truly does great things for its students. Here’s to a bright and productive future — together. Onward!”
Mitchell’s experience in education includes helping to found an all-girls public school in Queens in 2006, which served a very diverse population and had a graduation rate of 98%.
From there, Mitchell took a position as superintendent of a school in Garrison, N.Y., where she spent the past five and a half years and where she was instrumental in establishing a literacy program for grades kindergarten through eight. Other accomplishments while in Garrison include creating a 1:1 Chromebook initiative for grades three through eight and bringing computer literacy and expertise to younger students. She also oversaw a $9.9 million capital project in the district.
Mitchell lived in Beacon for many years, but her mother worked at Cardinal Hayes School in Millbrook, so she is familiar with the village and has fond memories of visiting it as a child.
She earned her undergraduate degree from Ithaca College, her M.S. from St. Rose’s College and her M.L.S. from SUNY Albany. She earned her Doctorate at Manhattanville College in education leadership. She has served as a library media specialist and as an assistant principal as well as a principal and superintendent, so her experience is vast.
Both Mitchell and the BOE have said they are looking forward to a productive and fruitful partnership in the future.
Dave Jones, owner and chief mechanic at Lakeville Auto. Laurie Fendrich
The board’s job was to find savings — it found a school to close instead