11August 18, 2011 TH E E VA NG E L I S T
BACK TO SCHOOL
Bishop Maginn High School
Welcomes
New Head of School
Please join us on Thursday, August 25th, as we welcome
our new Head of School, Mr. Joseph Salamack.
This exciting event will begin at 5:00 p.m. and will be held
at Bishop Maginn High School,
99 Slingerland St., Albany, NY 12202.
After welcoming remarks by Bishop Howard J. Hubbard
and Superintendent Sister Jane Herb, IHM, PhD,
join us to meet Joe and enjoy light refreshments.
For further information, please contact Angela Stone, Director of
Advancement (518) 463-2247 ext. 104 or [email protected]
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BY CASEY NORMILES T A F F W R I T E R
Just a few months ago, JosephSalamack was living a blockaway from celebrities in sunnyOakland, Calif. He was principalof a private Catholic schoolwhere he knew everyone andhad spent 10 years working inthe Diocese of Oakland and itsschools.
But when the opportunitycame to return to Johnstown, hishometown in the AlbanyDiocese, he leapt at the chance.
Mr. Salamack is the new headof school for Bishop MaginnHigh School in Albany.
“It’s a wonderful opportunityto work for this diocese and forSister Jane Herb, the superinten-dent,” said Mr. Salamack. “I felt itwas the place I should be. It’s anurban Catholic school with adiverse community; I’m familiarwith this area — and the peoplehere are wonderful.”
In his 30 years in education,Mr. Salamack has taught at plen-ty of urban Catholic schoolswith great success. He hopes toput those years of experience togood use.
Local historyGrowing up, he attended
Catholic schools: St. Patrick’sSchool in Johnstown, St.Bonaventure University andThe College of Saint Rose inAlbany.
The Vincentian Sisters whotaught him influenced Mr.Salamack’s decision to becomean educator himself. “I loved thevalues and morals taught atCatholic school and I’m a prod-uct of it,” he noted. “My parentsmade the sacrifice to send theirkids there because it was impor-tant to them, and it’s importantto me, too.”
Mr. Salamack’s new role atBishop Maginn will allow him toshare his enthusiasm forCatholic education and use it tohelp other parents and studentsmake the same choice them-selves.
As head of school, he will be in
charge of thefinance andmarketing ofthe school andits ties to thecommunity.
“I have a lotof experiencein marketingand it’s an ex-citing endeav-or we’ve be-
gun here,” he said. “We have togo out and let people know we’rea viable choice in Catholic edu-cation.”
Mr. Salamack’s plans for theschool have already been set inmotion, from his endeavor toprovide laptops and iPads forthe students to his efforts toreboot the school’s marketingcampaign through radio, televi-sion, billboards, signs and a newformat for their open houses andvisitations.
Value for money“Many people appreciate
Catholic education because ofthe morals and values it teaches,but not all of the students areCatholic, so we need to let par-ents know what else they can getfor their money along with thevalues,” said Mr. Salamack. “Ifpeople know that you’re work-ing hard to offer a 21st-centuryeducation, they’ll want their kidsat your school.”
The new head of school spentthe summer directing renova-tions. Bishop Maginn now has anew guidance center for stu-dents and a student centerwhere they can relax and social-ize between classes.
Something as simple as open-ing the blinds on the windows isimportant, Mr. Salamack noted:“I’ve heard from different peoplethat, when they drive by and seethe blinds closed, they think theschool is empty, so something assimple as opening the blindsand letting them know that peo-ple are here, that the school isalive, is important.”
The newcomer said he’s notnervous about beginning theschool year, just excited. Havingbeen welcomed by other areaadministrators and BishopMaginn staff already, heremarked that “I just hope theysee me as a breath of fresh airand a different set of eyes, notthe ‘change freak.’ Change isreally good for people. Thisschool is going to change, andthat’s good.”
Notre Dame-Bishop GibbonsSchool in Schenectady also has anew principal: Ninette Kondratow-icz, who was most recently ND-BG’s co-principal. She has alsotaught math and science and beencoordinator and assistant principalfor the middle school grades.
HEAD OF SCHOOL
Johnstown native returnsas Bishop Maginn staffer
MR. SALAMACK
