At their March 4 meeting, the Cohoes Board of Education approved the recommendation of Cohoes High School Principal Dr. Laura Tarlo for the position of Assistant Superintendent for Educational Services beginning July 1, 2026.
Dr. Tarlo’s career began in Cohoes in 2002 where she was a Teacher Assistant. Following that, she spent over a decade in the Shenendehowa School District, where she taught Business & Marketing and later served as assistant principal.
In 2016, she returned to her home district and alma mater, Cohoes High School, to accept the role of high school assistant principal, and was named principal just four years later.
During her tenure, Dr. Tarlo has been an outstanding leader at CHS. Among her many accomplishments, she has increased the number of dual-credit course offerings by working closely with Hudson Valley Community College (HVCC), State University at Albany (SUNY Albany) and Siena University so that students can earn college credits while in high school. Currently, CHS offers over 100 potential college credits.
She has been instrumental in forming a robust safety team and works closely with the Cohoes Police Department and Cohoes Fire Department to foster collaboration between the school and community on safety initiatives.
Dr. Tarlo has also worked tirelessly to create a positive school culture and climate for students, staff and families through clubs, such as National Honor Society and Student Council, and the Parent Teacher Organization (PTO), which offers an array of events that fosters a fun and supportive school community.
She earned her undergraduate degree in Marketing & Management from Siena University and her master’s degree in childhood education from Russell Sage College. In 2011, she earned her Certificate of Advanced Study (CAS) in Educational Leadership from SUNY Plattsburgh.
Most recently, Dr. Tarlo earned her Educational Doctorate from Russell Sage College, a journey that took her just shy of three years to complete. She describes this achievement as “closure” on her formal academic journey and a way to challenge herself and grow as a leader.
Applying for the position of assistant superintendent was the natural next step in her career.
“I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to serve the Cohoes City School District in this new capacity and I look forward to working alongside Superintendent O’Shea and our entire team to ensure stability, growth, and continued success for every student in our district,” said Dr. Tarlo.
Superintendent Peggy O’Shea is excited to welcome Dr. Tarlo to the district leadership team. “As high school principal, Dr. Tarlo has consistently demonstrated innovative thinking, a clear vision for excellence, and a deep commitment to our school community.”
Cohoes Board of Education President Margaret Giller is confident that Dr. Tarlo’s transition to this role will “strengthen our schools and ensure a bright future for every student in our community.”
“The Board of Education is thrilled to appoint Dr. Laura Tarlo as our new assistant superintendent. Throughout her tenure as principal, she has demonstrated a tireless commitment to building a culture of inclusivity and integrity while maintaining a steadfast focus on individual student achievement,” said Mrs. Giller. “Promoting from within is a testament to the talent we have here in the Cohoes City School District. We are eager to work with Dr. Tarlo in this new capacity to further our strategic goals and accelerate progress toward our vision of providing a purpose and a plan for all of our students.”
Recruitment for a new high school principal is currently underway.