The Rhinebeck School District recently welcomed a new Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum to our community, Ms. Katie Andersen, in mid-January.

I had the pleasure of meeting with Ms. Andersen to discuss her background, goals, and inspiration. Throughout our interview, it was clear that Ms. Andersen is ready to bring positive change to our school through “listening and learning” where she can bring change. 

Ms. Andersen moved to Rhinebeck from Mamaroneck NY, Lower Westchester, where she held the position of principal at their local elementary school for the past seven and a half years. 

Rhinebeck’s small size is one aspect that drew Ms. Andersen here because she feels that she will be able to make close and trusting relationships with the staff and students, a goal that is really important to her. 

In the Hechinger Report article “Education Needs More Ambitious Women,”  Brookings Institute fellow Andre Perry writes about the inequality among men and women in the public education system and the difficulties women face while trying to obtain high leadership positions.

“The AASA [School Superintendents Association] report found that the share of women who lead districts is rising incrementally, but steadily, from 24.1 percent in 2010 to 26.68 percent in 2020. That’s more than double the percentage of female superintendents documented in 2000 (13.1 percent),” said Perry.

This national inequality between men and women administrators can be seen in our own district, as Ms. Andersen is one of only two women to hold district-level administrator positions.  

Although women administrators are underrepresented in our district, Ms. Andersen reports coming from school districts in which she “was surrounded by leadership of women.” 

But she does not view this change as a challenge; instead, she sees it merely as a difference, one she plans on “embracing.” 

“I believe in any workplace if you [have] strong relationships and make human connections, said Andersen.  That’s at the forefront of all of the work that you do together.” 

Later on, we spoke about her goals in this new position. She informed me that she has been visiting classrooms in each building, meeting with each grade level team and department k-12, and listening to what change is needed. 

 “I believe active listening feeds our next steps,” said Andersen. 

Andersen has also been working towards “fostering relationships” with the community outside of the immediate Rhinebeck school district by meeting with the Rhinebeck Science Foundation and Ramapo for Children. 

Our new Assistant Superintendent has already begun to bring positive change to our district in the short time that she has been here. 

She created the Rhinebeck Happenings newsletter that highlights activities and lessons district-wide, and she has hosted multiple district-wide committee meetings and professional development sessions during Superintendent Conference Days.

Rhinebeck Reality encourages you to listen and learn with our new Assistant Superintendent as we all look ahead to the future of our school district.