The City of Poughkeepsie Board of Education announced on Wednesday, Feb. 20, the appointment of Jose Carrion as the future assistant superintendent for instruction, effective July 1, 2008.
The position became available when Karen Markeloff, current assistant superintendent for instruction, decided to retire last year.
“The board interviewed Mr. Carrion in executive session a couple of weeks ago,” said Raymond Duncan, board president. “We feel he shows a true interest in education and will do a wonderful job.”
Carrion is currently the district assistant superintendent for human resources and has been serving in that position for the district since the fall of 2006. He said he is excited and grateful to Dr. Laval Wilson, superintendent for the Poughkeepsie City School District, for the opportunity to serve in another capacity.
“I’m laughing and smiling because I’m thinking about Dr. Wilson,” Carrion said to the board during Wednesday’s meeting. “He said, ‘Jose, make sure you look good,’ and he’s always been sort of a mentor to me.”
Wilson had praise for him as well.
“We are delighted to have him,” said Wilson. “I had recommended him. He’s an excellent member of our administration.”
Some of Carrion’s responsibilities as assistant superintendent for instruction will include helping to arrange career academies at the high school.
Prior to his arrival to Poughkeepsie, Carrion had been a principal and teacher at the elementary and high school level in Newburgh.
Wilson said the board plans to advertise for Carrion’s current position in March.
Social Studies requests new textbook
The high school social studies department hopes to purchase a 2009 edition of the textbook, “The Americans,” for 300 juniors enrolled in the American History course, and it needs approval from the Board of Education before turning the page.
Social Studies teacher Greg Zinsley gave a presentation to the board at the Feb. 20 meeting. The department hopes to purchase the $77 book, which includes DVD and Internet text license supplementary materials, in time for the 2008-09 school year.
Last year, a social studies department sub-committee spent six months contacting book companies and getting sample copies and presentations, and decided to use McDougal Littell, a textbook publishing company previously used by the department.
The last time the American History course upgraded its text was in 1999. Board member Randall Johnson asked Zinsley why it’s taken nine years to make a change.
“We have to be judicious,” Zinsley said. “With the price of the book, we realized maybe we could spread our resources better by waiting a little longer.”
Zinsley anticipates any revisions made to the curriculum will be covered in the book. He pointed out that many other textbooks aren’t up to par with current events around the world.
The board will review the request at its next meeting, Wednesday, Feb. 27 at 7:30 p.m., after the Beat’s press time.