Superintendent Charles S. Dedrick leaving Cohoes to lead Capital Region BOCES

Dedrick to step down in June

Charles S. Dedrick, who has served as the superintendent of schools in Cohoes since 1999, is leaving Cohoes to assume the role of District Superintendent at the Capital Region Board of Cooperative Education Services (BOCES).

Dedrick, who has guided the Cohoes schools through a period of academic growth, was appointed to his new post at Capital Region BOCES by the organization's Board of Education on Wednesday, April 9. His last day in Cohoes will be June 8.

"I have thoroughly enjoyed my time in the Cohoes City School District," Dedrick said. "The staff in Cohoes has a vision for each child and it was an honor for me to help them foster their energy and drive for educating the city's children. I have enjoyed working with the Board of Education, faculty, staff, city officials and the community members who are all deeply committed to the children of Cohoes."

As the BOCES district superintendent, Dedrick will have a dual set of responsibilities. He will serve as the Chief Executive Officer of BOCES and as the regional representative of the Commissioner of Education. As CEO, he will oversee all efforts of the BOCES. In this role, he will administer and supervise area-wide educational services provided at the request of component school districts. As a representative of the State Education Department, Dedrick will be responsible for providing leadership to school districts, often helping to interpret and implement New York State Education laws, as well as the rules, regulations and initiatives of the Board of Regents and the Commissioner of Education.

During Dedrick's tenure in Cohoes, math and English Language Arts scores in improved dramatically. The district was also recognized as a "High Achieving, Gap Closing District" by the state. He also put in place academic intervention strategies that have improved achievement at the classroom level. Dedrick worked to establish a full-day Universal Prekindergarten program in the district and implemented a summer program for elementary students and an expanded summer program for middle school students. The school buildings have improved through four voter-approved building projects under Dedrick's leadership, including two recent projects that will add classroom space to three of the district's six school buildings.

Dedrick's work with local colleges and universities has established partnerships between the district and institutions such as the College of Saint Rose and Sage College. As an adjunct faculty member and a member of the Board of Directors for The Institute of New Era Educational Leadership and Innovation at the College of Saint Rose, he helped make it possible for Cohoes educators to attend an administrative certification program and oversaw internships in Cohoes for educators from other districts. Dedrick has also helped to establish joint programs between the Cohoes City Schools and the University at Albany and Hudson Valley Community College.

In addition, through his commitment to The Academy for Character Education at Russell Sage College, Character Education is now embedded into daily life in the Cohoes schools. Both administrators and building-level initiatives have been awarded for their work with Character Education.

"On behalf of the Board of Education and the entire Cohoes Community, I would like to express our appreciation for the outstanding service Chuck has provided our children and families," said Board of Education President V. Mark Pascale. "During his tenure as our superintendent of schools, Chuck has become a caring and dedicated member of the community.

"His contributions have been profound and always progressive. We wish him the best with his new challenges and take comfort that he's not going far and will continue to serve Cohoes and beyond as the new Capital Region BOCES Superintendent," Pascale said.

Prior to working in Cohoes, Dedrick was superintendent of schools at the Green Island School District for three years. Before rising to the job of superintendent, he was a principal and social studies teacher in the district. 

The process to recruit a new superintendent will be both inclusive and deliberate, according to Pascale. The Board has met with a search consultant (at no cost) from BOCES and will initiate appropriate steps toward a timely and productive transition. The Board of Education will reach out to parents, students and staff to join it in the crucial decision of selecting a new leader for the schools. Details of the recruitment process will be articulated further in the near future.